Danville, Va. --- The Roanoke College volleyball team had a big weekend, claiming the 14th Annual Cougar Classic hosted by Averett University. It was the first time in 10 years that head coach Blair Trail got to hoist the championship trophy of the season-opening tournament.
The 4-0 record ties the school-mark for the best start in school-history with the 1979 and 1988 squads.
The Maroons defeated tournament-host Averett, 3-1 and GSAC-power Maryville (TN), 3-2 on Saturday. Today they defeated both Huntingdon (AL) and Greensboro in three sets to claim the title. Greensboro and Averett were picked 2-3, respectively in the pre-season USA-South Conference Volleyball poll.
Roanoke and Cave Spring products
Caitlyn Long and
Maggie Wagner were selected to the Cougar Classic All-Tournament Team with Long garnering tournament MVP honors.
The women lost the first set, 27-25 in the first match to Averett before winning the next three, 27-25, 25-16 and 25-18. Freshman
Kelsey Largen led the Maroons with 14 kills while senior
Marcy Conner had 12 followed by Wagner with 10. Freshman
Kate Feldman finished with 45 assists.
The most exciting game for the Maroons came in the second game on Saturday against Maryville. The Scots, who have won six of their last eight GSAC Volleyball Titles, were defeated in five games to the hands of the Maroons. After the Maroons won the first set, 25-22, they lost 29-31 but bounced back to win the third set, 25-21. After dropping the set four, 23-25, Roanoke won the final set, 20-18 to capture the win.
Feldman had 54 assists while Wagner had 19 kills followed by Largen and Conner with 12 each. Long had 24 digs along with
Lynsey Ferris, who collected 14 along with a team-high four blocks.
Feldman had 34 assists while Long collected 12 digs and five service aces in the win against Huntingdon. Wagner had 13 kills along with eight digs.
The Maroons swept Greensboro, 3-0 for the first time ever in the series. The Maroons, who are now 3-17 all-time against the Pride, were led by Wagner and junior
Erin Burnop, who totaled nine and seven kills, respectively. Feldman had 34 assists and Long had 17 digs.
The women return to action next weekend as they host the Maroon Classic Sept. 5-6. They play Meredith (6 p.m.) and Ferrum (8 p.m.) on Friday. On Saturday, they play Methodist at 10 a.m. and Shenandoah at 4 p.m. The Maroons won the invitational last year.
