The Virginia Wesleyan men's volleyball team (17-6, 6-4 ODAC) dropped a pair of matches Saturday at TowneBank Arena, falling to Roanoke in the opening contest before closing the day against nationally ranked No. 10 Southern Virginia.
Match One:
The Marlins opened the afternoon against Roanoke but struggled to slow down a hot-hitting Maroons squad in a 3-0 loss (25-15, 25-14, 25-21).
Virginia Wesleyan found its rhythm late in the match, producing its best offensive stretch in the third set. After trailing early, the Marlins battled through several long rallies and kept the set tight midway through before Roanoke eventually pulled away to complete the sweep.
JaMarhe Wills led the Marlins' attack with 10 kills while adding four digs. Siah Hall chipped in seven kills and seven digs, and James Cromwell-Young added three kills with three block assists at the net.
Ajaye Davis directed the offense with 22 assists while also contributing six digs defensively. Danny Smith paced the back row with seven digs as the Marlins tried to keep Roanoke's efficient offense in check.
Match Two:
In the second match of the day, the Marlins faced a much stiffer test against No. 10 Southern Virginia, ultimately falling in straight sets (25-22, 25-15, 25-16).
Virginia Wesleyan came out strong in the opening set, matching the nationally ranked Knights point-for-point. The Marlins built momentum midway through the frame and forced multiple ties late, but Southern Virginia closed the set on a late push to take the early advantage.
The Knights' offense began to separate in the second and third sets, using efficient attacking and strong serving pressure to maintain control.
Wills once again led the Marlins offensively with nine kills and seven digs. Carlyle Campbell delivered one of the most efficient performances of the day, recording four kills on six swings without an error.
Hall added four kills and an ace, while Davis finished with 22 assists and an ace while running the Wesleyan offense. Smith anchored the defense with eight digs.
