BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Bridgewater College battled to win in Wednesday's first game against Randolph-Macon, but the Yellow Jackets responded to win the ODAC matchup in four games.

The Eagles took a 28-26 win in the opening game before Randolph-Macon stormed back to win the next three 25-17, 25-15, 25-16.

Strong serving from libero Casey O'Leary (Quinton, Va./New Kent) sparked the Eagles to a quick 8-3 lead. Bridgewater maintained the lead until the Yellow Jackets knotted the score at 18-18.

Randolph-Macon took the lead at 21-20 and hitting error by the Eagles put the visitors up by two.

The Eagles then regained the lead 23-22 on a block by Cadie Castle (Mineral, Va./Louisa County) and an attack error by the Jackets.

Randolph-Macon survived two game points before the Eagles were able to close out the first game. With the score tied at 26-26, a hitting error by the Yellow Jackets gave the Eagles the lead. Mara Hogan (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) then delivered the game-winning kill for the 28-26 victory.

A kill by Katie Long (Floyd, Va./Floyd County) gave the Eagles a 16-13 lead in the second game, but the Jackets answered with three straight to tie the score. Bridgewater regained the lead, 17-16, on a hitting error, but Randolph-Macon scored nine unanswered points to even the match by winning Game 2, 25-17.

The Eagles stayed close early in the third game, but with the score tied at 8-8, Randolph-Macon used a 9-4 run to open up a 17-12 lead. The Yellow Jackets won the third game 25-15 to take a 2-1 lead.

Randolph-Macon jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the fourth game and the Eagles never fully recovered. Bridgewater got as close as five points, but the Yellow Jackets closed out the match with a 25-16 win.

For the Eagles, Long and Katie Baker (Strasburg, Va./Strasburg) led the attack with nine kills each. O'Leary finished with 20 digs and Lindsay Kallam (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) added 19 assists.

The Eagles now 8-8 overall and 1-3 in the ODAC, are idle until Tuesday, Oct. 4 when they travel to Roanoke for ODAC action.

Randolph-Macon remained undefeated in the ODAC at 5-0 and improved to14-3 overall.