Box Score Lynchburg, VA – The Regent University Men's Volleyball team was back on the road Saturday afternoon for a match-up with Randolph College. This is the third ODAC school the Royals have faced this season, winning two of the three. They would look to do it again, but standing in their way would be a tough Wildcats team, who was also having some early season success.
The first set started as a back-in-forth with both teams scoring points. However, eventually, Graduate Student Colby Yawn (Chesapeake, VA) was able to tie the set with a strong kill and then take the lead on a fellow Graduate Student Jaxson Gray (Chesapeake, VA) service ace. A few plays later, Randolph was able to pull ahead by three points, but a Graduate Student Aaron Campbell (Virginia Beach, VA) kill stopped the momentum. A service ace by Yawn would give Regent the lead again but the Wildcats would come back to take the set 25-22.
The second set began just like the first, with both teams trading points. Campbell continued to dominate the net, while Junior Keith Larkin (Snohomish, WA) was able to serve up an ace. A kill by Junior Aubrey Flora (Chesapeake, VA) pulled the Royals to within one point but Randolph would put together points to move ahead 12-8. Campbell kept things close with another kill, but the Wildcats were able to increase their advantage to 18-10. Yawn gave the Royals more opportunities after a couple of kills, but Randolph would go on to win the set 25-17.
Campbell began the third set with a kill, after receiving a set from Sophomore Ariel Downer (Spring Lake, NC) and Regent would score again on a Wildcats' service error. Flora and Freshman Preston Nemeti (Burke, VA) would get in on the scoring and along with a Larkin ace, the Royals took the lead 10-8. An ace and a kill by Junior Lucas Whitman (Suffolk, VA) kept the momentum in favor of Regent, while kills by Gray and Yawn increased the advantage and helped the Royals win the set 25-22.
The fourth set saw Yawn and Campbell score with kills and then a few points later Whitman would score, as well, to give Regent the one-point lead. A Campbell kill kept the lead but eventually Randolph would tie the score. However, the Royals were able to grab the lead again after three Wildcats' errors and then increase it after a Campbell kill. A Flora service ace, combined with a Yawn kill helped Regent win the set 25-17.
Gray and Flora started the fifth and final set with two kills and then Yawn would add one of his own for the quick two-point advantage. However, Randolph was able to eventually tie the score and then take their own two-point lead. Yawn would keep them in the set, but the Royals eventually fell by a final score of 3-2 (15-11).
Campbell and Yawn finished with a combined 30 kills, 18 and 12 respectively, while Yawn and Flora dished out 19 and 17 assists. In addition, Campbell led the team with 15 digs and Larson had a team high 3 service aces.
Regent will be back in action on Saturday, February 22nd when they remain on the road to face Roanoke College. First Serve is scheduled for 4:30pm.
