The Facts:

Scores: Nazareth 3, Roanoke 2; Mt. Olive (D2) 3, Roanoke 0
Location: Ashland, Va.

The Short story: The Roanoke College men's volleyball team opened the 2024 season Saturday at the Macon Invitational, dropping a hard-fought five-set match to Nazareth University before the
University of Mount Olive (Division II) defeated RC in three sets.

How it happened:
*Roanoke took the first two sets, 26-24, 25-22 against Nazareth but the Golden Flyers rallied to tie with 25-22 victories in the third and fourth sets. The fifth and deciding set was tied at 12 but three-straight kills from Owens Wickens ended the match.
*No statistics were available at press time from the Mt. Olive match.

Inside the numbers:
*Michael Cummins drilled a team-best 15 kills to go with seven digs and three service aces.
*Jackson Rutkowski had 11 kills and Leo Hauser had 34 assists.
*Kaeden Noble had 15 digs while Dominic Wheaton had seven blocks, including two solos.
*Wickens had 26 kills and nine aces for Nazareth.
 
Up Next:
*The Maroons travel to Virginia Wesleyan University Wednesday at 6 p.m.