Box Score BRIDGEWATER, Va. - In a match with conference tournament implications, Bridgewater fell in four sets to the visiting Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets.
After a slow first set, the Eagles picked up the pace in the second despite being down 7-0 to start the set. Bridgewater finally got the ball back thanks to a kill from Rachel Gaston. Gaston would have three more kills during a nine point Taylor McNeely service run to put Bridgewater up 9-7. Bridgewater held on to the lead and took the set on a Lisa O'Grady kill to even the match at 1-1.
The Eagles jumped out to an early 6-2 advantage in set three and continued to produce. The home team was up 21-17 when the Yellow Jackets went on a five point run to take their first lead of the set 22-21. Bridgewater evened it at 22-22 on a Randolph-Macon attack error, but lost the next three points to give the Yellow Jackets a 2-1 edge.
Randolph-Macon stormed out to an 11-3 lead in set four and would not falter as they took the set and match.
Gaston paced the Eagles with 11 kills and 17 digs. McNeely had a match high 26 digs, with Jyailah Friendly (11), Grace Hayes (15) and Jessica Bissmeyer (10) all posting double-digit digs as well. Emily Hanger added nine kills with O'Grady at eight. Hayes contributed 32 assists for a double-double.
Bridgewater moves to 20-5 overall and 8-3 in conference. The Eagles have one more conference game before the final ODAC standings are official.
The team returns to court on Saturday, October 26 for a 11:00 a.m. match with Goucher College. The Eagles will honor seniors Gaston, McNeely and Madison Haynes before the match.
