Hornets Pull off Upset of Top-Seeded R-MC and Advance to the ODAC Championship

ASHLAND, VA – The Lynchburg College volleyball team pulled off the upset Saturday morning in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference semi-finals against Randolph-Macon College with a final score of 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21) to move on to the championship.

After a win earlier this week at home against Roanoke College, Lynchburg was seeded fourth as they came into the match to face the host and top-seeded Yellow Jacket squad that knocked off LC 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-20) during the regular season.  With Saturday's win against Randolph-Macon, Lynchburg will make their third-straight ODAC championship appearance.

This match was the epitome of a team game for Coach Ellinger's young squad.  Four Hornets posted double-figure kills (Jennifer Garrett 13, Aricquel Payne 12, Amanda Perry 12, and Sierra Strathy 11).  Sophomore setter Mackenzie Ross assisted her teammates a career-high 41 times in this one, giving her a total of 83 assists in the past two ODAC tournament matches.  Defensively, libero Sam Page had 26 digs and also added two service aces.  Perry contributed 17 digs to go along with senior Brittany Crawford who added 11 more.

Payne's 12 kills leave her only 12 kills away from tying the all-time Lynchburg career record held by head coach Beth Ellinger.

Courtney Lowers led two categories of statistics for the Jackets with 24 kills and 18 digs in the losing effort.  Randolph-Macon completes their 2014 campaign with a 20-11 record. 

Lynchburg (19-12) advances to the ODAC championship match to take on the winner of Virginia Wesleyan College and Washington and Lee University at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Randolph-Macon.