Roanoke Splits Pair At Maroon Classic

action photo of RC volleyball player Ryanna Clark
Roanoke split on day two of Maroon Classic

The Basics
Score: Roanoke 3 | N.C. Wesleyan 2 0 (25-20, 22-25, 25-17, 22-25, 18-16)

Records: Maroons 4-4 | Battling Bishops 5-3
Location: Salem, Va.

The Lead: Roanoke College looked to carry the momentum of a three-match win streak into the second, and final, day of the 2021 Maroon Classic when they faced NC Wesleyan in a rematch from a week ago. The Bishops bested the Maroons at the Cougar Classic and Roanoke looked to exact a bit of revenge at home. The two teams would trade winning the first four sets to setup a fifth, and deciding, set. With the score tied at 16-16, Roanoke recorded the final two points to complete the five-set win.

Highlights:

  • The first set was tied at 8-8 before a pair of Kennedy Clemmer service aces ignited a 6-1 Roanoke run to seize control of the match. Roanoke would hold the advantage and take the opening frame, 25-20.
  • Set number two would remain close throughout but the Bishops took a four-point lead late in the set. Three straight by the Maroons, an Angel Ross kill and two NCW miscues, made it 21-20. However, The visitors from North Carolina would stave off the Roanoke rally and take the set.
  • Kills by Parker Moody and Rylee Mayer sparked a Roanoke surge at the mid-way point of the third set that would allow the Maroons to take a 2-1 edge into the fourth stanza.
  • Roanoke seemed poised to win the match in four sets, when they used a 10-4 surge to take control. The Battling Bishops rallied and scored nine of the next 12 points to tie the score at 20-20 and carried that momentum into the late stages to tie the match at 2-2 with a 25-22 win.
  • The fifth, and deciding, would see Roanoke earn a match point at 16-15 but a kill would tie the score at 16 apiece. A Ross killed followed by a NC Wesleyan attack error allowed the Maroons to take the match, 3-2.
  • Linsey Bailey had 20 kills while Moody would add 13, Ryanna Clark had 11, and Mayer finished with 10. Olivia Newman (33) and Kylee Draper (23) handed out 56 of Roanoke's 68 assists while Clemmer led the team with 21 digs.

The Basics
Score: Roanoke 0 | Greensboro 3 (28-30, 20-25, 17-25)

Records: Maroons 4-5 | Pride 6-2
Location: Salem, Va.

The Lead: The Maroons would play Greensboro in their final match of the 2021 Maroon Classic with Roanoke looking to go a perfect 4-0 over the two days of play. A Pride rally would see the first set tied up late and go back and forth with Greensboro winning the set, 30-28. Roanoke would hold leads in each of the next two sets, but each time the Pride would rally and took the match 3-0.

Highlights:

  • A pair of kills by Moody sparked a run that saw the Maroons in front, 9-3. However, a Pride rally would tie the opening set at 18-18. Roanoke earned a match point but back-to-back kills gave Greensboro a 25-24 lead and led to an RC timeout.
  • The two teams would trade the lead with each having a chance at match point. With the score tied at 28-28, two straight Pride points would allow GC to take the opening frame, 30-28.
  • Roanoke found themselves down early but they chipped away and after a Clark kill, the Greensboro lead had been cut to 21-20. However, the Pride would once again seize control and went on to a 25-20 second set victory.
  • The final set was close early but Greensboro was able to pull away from a weary Roanoke squad to take the match, 3-0.
  • Bailey and Clark led the offense, combining for 20 kills. Newman posted 15 assists and 12 digs while Draper handed out 14 helpers and Clark added two solo and two assisted blocks.
  • For her efforts, Bailey was named to the 2021 Marron Classic All-Tournament Team.

Up next: Roanoke will go on the road for a match with Pfeiffer on Tuesday at 7:00pm.