By Brian Hoffman
After stunning the top-seeded team in the tournament the Roanoke College women saw their season come to an end in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference volleyball tournament semifinals. The Maroons lost to Randolph-Macon in three sets in Ashland, 25-19, 25-20 and 25-22 on Friday.
Roanoke came into the tournament as the number eight seed with a 12-12 record, sending them to top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan. The Maroons won a close first set, 25-23, before losing a lop-sided second set, 25-7. Things figured to be back to normal at that point, but the Maroons surprised the conference by winning the next two, 25-19 and 25-18, to win the match. Rylee Mayer had 11 kills to lead RC.
That set up a Friday semifinal at fourth seeded Randolph-Macon and the Yellowjackets prevailed in three, ending RC’s season at 13-13. Mayer had nine kills and Peyton Kirchner had seven. Kylee Draper had 24 assists.
After the tournament Kirchner was named to the Second Team All-ODAC Volleyball team as announced by the conference. Kirchner twice earned ODAC Player of the Week honors on September 12 and October 24. She finished the season with 293 kills, 77 blocks, 72 digs, 39 service aces and six assists. Her attack percentage for the season was .331.
Randolph-Macon stayed hot with a three-set win over second seeded Averett in the ODAC final to win the tournament. The Jackets earned the NCAA bid from the conference and will play at Transylvania tonight.
