Roanoke Upsets Washington and Lee in Quarterfinals

ROANOKE, Va. --- Three of the top four seeds in the 2009 ODAC Volleyball Tournament advanced through the quarterfinal round on Friday evening, but it was the seventh seeded squad that created the most noise in Hollins gymnasium.  Roanoke College upset second-seeded Washington and Lee University to effectively end the Generals' streak of eight straight ODAC titles.  Randolph-Macon College, Lynchburg College, and Virginia Wesleyan College also advanced to the conference semifinals.

Washington and Lee looked in complete control of the match following 25-18 and 25-15 showings through the first two games.  The Maroons battled back to win the next two, 25-20 and 26-14, before staving off a 14-13 advantage from WLU to win the deciding fifth set, 19-17.  Kelsey Largen and Maggie Wagner combined for 39 kills (20 and 19, respectively).  Largen hit .419 for the match as she had only two errors in 43 attempts.  Caitlyn long dished out 45 assists and picked up 28 digs.  Emily Martin had 25 stops.  For the Generals, Rachael Phillips and Marah Schmitz each swung for 20 kills.  Louise Brooks added 15 winners.  Kristi Stevens handed out 59 assists.

Top-seeded Randolph-Macon College defeated Guilford College in straight sets, 25-23, 25-15, 25-13.  Raena Winton, the recently tabbed ODAC Player of the Year, led the Yellow Jackets with 12 kills while Mallory Carter added 10 winners.  Jill Kubichan collected 21 digs.  For Guilford, Brittany Freeman notched 11 kills to go with eight digs.

Lynchburg College, the tourney's third seed, needed four sets to move past Virginia Wesleyan College (25-22, 25-13, 10-25, 27-25).  Elena Kritter had 13 kills  while Michelle Boucher added 11 winners.  Savannah Tinsley collected 22 digs in the effort.  For the Marlins, Rebecca Bradford and Lindsey Spears recorded 12 and 11 kills with Bradford also leading the squad with 24 digs.  Erin Paton notched 17 digs.

It also took Bridgewater College four sets to defeat Emory & Henry College in the four-five matchup.  The game scores favored BC, 25-16, 24-26, 25-8, 26-24.  Erika Dirnagl and Candice Guy each reached double figures in kills with 14 and 10, respectively.  Tricia Davis passed for 45 assists to go with 15 digs.  Cassie O'Leary had a team-high 25 digs.  For the Wasps, Rachel Fertitta had a match-high 19 kills while Samantha Shephard had 10 attacks register points.  Erin Holben had 29 kills while Twyla Sessor made 28 stops.

The semifinals of the ODAC Volleyball Tournament are set for 11:00 a.m. in the gymnasium at Hollins University.  The winners will play for the ODAC title at 3:30 p.m.  For more information on ODAC volleyball, visit any of the participating schools' website, or go to the ODAC's NEW home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  To go to the ODAC Volleyball Tournament website, click HERE.