BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Despite a strong opening set, the Bridgewater College volleyball team fell 3-1 in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) meeting against Roanoke College Saturday morning. 

The Eagles earned the first point of the first set and quickly snatched an early five point lead, which included a pair of kills by Megann Grimes. The Eagles furthered their lead as Roanoke committed several errors before the Maroons called for a timeout.

Roanoke collected a few more points but Bridgewater remained well ahead. The Maroons cut the score to 13-11 before Rachel Kinsey and Carleigh Studtmann pounded a kill each to further the gap. Roanoke hit a three point stride to tie the score 15-15 before jumping ahead of the Eagles for the first time.

The score grew to 20 even as the teams battled for the lead but Bridgewater came out on top, capping off the set, 28-26.

Roanoke shot out with five points in the second set, allowing a kill from Abby Mills to slip through before taking off again. 

After a brief timeout from Bridgewater, the Eagles found their momentum as Mills and Sarah Temple added points to push the team ahead 8-5. Bridgewater cut the score further thanks to a Grimes and Temple collecting a kill each with Rachel Donaldson hitting an ace to tie it up, 11-11.

The Maroons managed to shake off the Eagles and surged ahead for a 10 point lead before delivering the final kill for a 25-15 win.

Kristen Trice had the first two kills to land the Eagles on the scoreboard in the third set but Roanoke followed close behind. The teams traded points until Roanoke pulled away to 15-10. The Eagles were able to tie the score 20-20 but the Maroons had the final five points to secure the victory, 25-20.

In the final set, the score remained tight as each team nailed down five points before the Eagles edged out Roanoke on back-to-back kills from Grimes and a Roanoke attack error. 

The Maroons were quick to catch up after a five point edge of their own. Roanoke increased their lead to 15-11, sending Bridgewater into a brief timeout. The Eagles managed to get back on the board as Studtmann dished out three service aces to bring the score, 18-18, but Roanoke took advantage of errors committed by the Eagles, securing the set win and the match victory.

Bridgewater was led by Grimes who tallied 14 kills with Mills adding 10. Nikki Snyder led the defense with 19 digs while Mills chipped in 14 of her own. Chelsea Owensby and Shannon Skellchock also reached double digit numbers, recording 11 and 12 digs, respectively. Skellchock notched 37 assists for the match.

Sarah Long led Roanoke with 15 kills. Brooke Bostwick chipped in 14. Ryan Hedgepeth led the defense with 19 kills while Olivia Earls collected 13. Jessica Block had 27 assists with Alexandra Martin recording 15.

The Eagles are back in action Wednesday, Oct. 29 for their final home match of the season, facing off against ODAC rival Randolph-Macon College on Senior Day. Game time is set for 7 p.m.