The Basics
Score: Roanoke 0 | William Peace 3 (21-25, 18-25, 16-25)

Records: Maroons 0-2 | Pacers 1-1
Location: Danville, Va.

The Lead: Roanoke College traveled to Danville for the opening day of the 2021 Cougar Classic, hosted by Averett University. The Maroons kicked off the two-day event with a match against William Peace. Roanoke would see the Pacers use a late first set run to take the opener and with the momentum on their side, William Peace would take the match in straight sets.

Highlights:

• Roanoke took a 19-17 lead, late in the opening frame. However, the Pacers would score two straight to tie and then use a 6-2 run to close out the first set.
• Kills by Peyton Kirchner and Linsey Bailey would open the second set. Tied at 2-2, William Peace used a 10-3 surge to take control of the set and push their lead to 2-0, 25-18.
• The third set would see both teams trade the lead and after a service ace by Sophia Wilson, the Maroons held a 9-8 advantage. The Pacers would once again go on a run to pull away and close out the match, 25-16.
• Bailey had nine kills with Parker Moody adding seven while Kirchner and Rylee Mayer finished with five apiece.
• Olivia Newman had a team high 20 assists and Kennedy Clemmer led with 19 digs.

The Basics
Score: Roanoke 1 | N.C, Wesleyan 3 (25-16, 10-25, 16-25, 24-26)

Records: Maroons 0-3 | Battling Bishops 2-1
Location: Danville, Va.

The Lead: In their second match of the day, Roanoke got off to a good start, taking the opening set (25-19) from North Carolina Wesleyan. The next three sets would be tightly contested but it would be the Battling Bishops that would win the race to three and defeated the Maroons, 3-1.

Highlights:

• With the opening set tied at 11, Roanoke would use a service error and Moody kill to help spark a run. Kylee Draper recorded an ace, forcing a timeout. Four straight points coming out of the break would allow Roanoke to pull away and take the first set, 25-19.
• NC Wesleyan would use a 7-0 run to seize momentum and tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-18 second set.
• The Bishops would race out to an early advantage in the third before Roanoke began to mount a rally. Trailing 15-7, the Maroons would score three in a row and six of the next seven to close the gap. However, the mountain would be too much to climb and Wesleyan took a 2-1 lead into the fourth set.
• The set was close but the Maroons would trail throughout. A service ace would allow Roanoke to stave off one match point (23-24) but a kill by NC Wesleyan would seal the set and the match, 3-1.
• Bailey would finish with 19 kills to lead the offense. Draper handed out 21 helpers while Kennedy led with 16 digs.

Up next: Roanoke will begin day two with a match against Oglethorpe at 9:00am before wrapping up their quartet of games in the Classic with a matchup against Piedmont at 1:00pm.