The Virginia Wesleyan men's volleyball team (16-9, 7-4 ODAC) fought back from two sets down at Randolph-Macon but fell just short in the fifth.
JaMarhe Wills led the Marlins as he recorded career highs in both points and kills with 31 and 24 in each category respectively with a 0.347 hitting percentage; Wills also tallied two assists, four service aces, six block assists, and seven digs.
Randolph-Macon began the first set with a convincing 10-4 lead and maintained their lead until the Marlins captured five straight points to level the set at 15-15. The Yellow Jackets fought back with four consecutive points to lead 19-15, but VWU won five of the next six points to tie the game at 20-20.The score was tied three more times until the Yellow Jackets managed to tally two points in a row and claim the first set 26-24.
The Yellow Jackets sped to a 6-2 lead in the second set, but the Marlins won three of the next four points to bring the score to 7-5. Randolph-Macon extended their advantage to 15-9 and maintained their significant lead through the 20-14 mark. The Marlins responded by winning six of the next eight points to challenge the home team at just two points behind; but the Yellow Jackets refocused and closed the second set 25-21 to lead 2-0 overall.
Randolph-Macon began the third set with a 3-0 run, but the Marlins responded by leveling the score at 3-3. The Marlins gained control in the middle of the set with a 4-0 run to lead 19-13; but the Yellow Jackets did not quit and won five of the next six points to diminish the deficit to two points at 20-18. The Marlins once again stretched their lead with the score being 23-19. Randolph-Macon then won three points in row to bring the score to 23-22 for VWU. The Marlins won the next point to earn a set point, and it took them two tries to seal the set, winning it 25-23.
The Marlins had a strong start to the fourth set, taking a 5-3 lead; but the Yellow Jackets strung together three points in a row to take their own 6-5 lead. VWU responded with another 3-0 run to lead 8-6. From this point on, neither team managed to score more than two points in a row, and the score remained extremely close. Randolph-Macon earned a match point at 24-23, but the Marlins held on and won four of the next five points to win the set 27-25 and force a fifth set decider.
VWU took an early lead in the final set against Randolph Macon as they went up 4-1, but the Yellow Jackets fought back to level the score at 4-4. The game remained closely matched, being tied again at 5-5, 7-7, and 9-9. Then, Randolph Macon won three consecutive points to lead 12-9. VWU fought back with two points in a row to bring themselves within one point of the Yellow Jackets at 12-11; but Randolph-Macon maintained their advantage, winning three of the next four points to clinch the five set win over the Marlins.
The Marlins are set to play their final regular season game at Roanoke College on Friday, April 4 at 6:00 p.m.
