ASHLAND, Virginia - A career night by freshman Emma Claytor helped push the No. 3 seeded Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan University over the No. 2 seeded Yellow-Jackets of Randolph-Macon College in five sets in the ODAC Women's Volleyball Conference Tournament semifinal match on Friday evening to advance to the championship match on Sunday. 

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Virginia Wesleyan 3 - Randolph-Macon (22-25, 22-25, 31-29, 25-19, 15-6)
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 24-8 | Randolph-Macon 18-10
Location: Ashland, VA

MATCH RECAP
The two squads were neck and neck through the early serves of the match with the Marlins holding a slim 7-6 lead. The Yellow Jackets scored five in a row taking an 11-7 lead but the Marlins climbed back within two, 15-13 after kill from Kathryn Yeager. RMC led 23-17 after an 8-4 run but again VWU fought back to pull within two points, 24-22, but the final point fell in favor of RMC who took set one 25-23. 

VWU opened set two on a 5-3 run but Macon fought back to knot the score at nine all and then went on to take a 13-10 lead. The Marlins climbed back ahead by one, 14-13, however the Yellow Jackets went back up 17-15. Virginia Wesleyan knotted the score at 19 all but Randolph-Macon closed out the set on a 6-3 run winning set two 25-22. 

The teams were neck and neck early in set three sitting knotted up at eight all. The Marlins went on a 6-1 run taking a 14-9 lead and VWU held on to a slim lead throughout the middle of the set as they led 21-17. RMC fought back to even up the score at 22 all and from there the teams traded point for point until the Marlins managed to put down three consecutive points to win set three 31-29.

Macon held the early lead in set four, 5-2, but Virginia Wesleyan clawed back taking a 10-9 lead. The teams tied the score at 15 all after each team went on a series of three-point and two-point runs, but the Marlins broke the draw going on a 10-4 run to close out the set and tied the match score at two sets a piece forcing a fifth set. 

With momentum on their side the Marlins opened the fifth set on a 6-0 run. The Yellow Jackets came as close as four points, 8-4, but Virginia Wesleyan carried on to win the set 15-6 after a 7-2 rally completing the come from behind win to advance to the ODAC Championship match. 

KEY STATS

• Emma Claytor had a career night with 18 kills in the match while also adding three service aces and four blocks.
• Morgan Ludovici was close behind with 17 kills to go along with 17 digs and a service ace.
• Sydney Collins rounded out the top corers with eight kills to match her eight blocks.  
• Haley Sutton collected 30 assists in the match while Alexis Davies-Hackenberg added 21 of her own. 
• Isabelle Gaudet paced the back line with a career-high 32 digs.

UP NEXT
The Marlins advance to the ODAC Women's Volleyball Championship match hosted by Washington & Lee on Sunday afternoon in Lexington, VA. Match time is still to be determined.