The Short Story: In a non-ODAC contest, the Roanoke volleyball team opened the Cougar Classic with a 3-1 loss to Randolph before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over Piedmont in the night cap to split their matches on the day.
MATCH 1 FACTS
Score: Randolph 3, Roanoke 1
Location: Danville, Va.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Randolph took sets one and two by identical 25-16 score, narrowing out hitting the Maroons with 19-17 kills in the sets.
- The Maroons looked to rebound with a 25-13 set two, holding the WildCats to just five kills with a -.043 hitting percentage in the set.
- Randolph would close out the match with a 25-18 set three win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Peyton Kirchner led the Maroons with nine kills with Ryanna Clark and Sara Waller each adding seven.
- Kylee Draper had 16 assists and 14 digs for her first double-double of the season with Aubrey Brown adding 12 dishes as Roanoke finished with 35.
- Four different Maroons had a block against the WildCats with four others recording a service ace.
- Brynlee Burrill had a match-high 15 digs.
MATCH 2 FACTS
Score: Roanoke 3, Piedmont 1
Location: Danville, Va.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Roanoke opened the match with a dominating 25-12 set one win. The Maroons led 11-9 before going on a 10-1 run to pull away for the match lead.
- After the Lions took set two, the Maroons used their small lead and kept Piedmont at bay by retaking the lead with a 25-22 set three win.
- Set four saw Piedmont take a lead and maintain it until 16-14 before the Maroons went on an 11-1 run including the final eight points to take the set 25-17 and the match 3-1.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Kirchner led with a match-high 14 kills with both Burrill and Clark adding eight. Draper added 20 assists and Brown tossed up 19.
- The Maroons finished with 11 blocks with Kirchner leading with three as Clark, Rylee Mayer, Waller each stuffing two attempts.
- Payten Johnston had the match-high 24 digs with Burrill also reaching double digits with 14.
UP NEXT
- Roanoke is back for Day 2 at the Cougar Classic on Saturday with a pair of matches against Waynesburg (10 a.m.) and Bob Jones (2 p.m.)