Salem, VA - Friday night marked the opening night of the 2014 Roanoke College Maroon Classic.  Hollins is scheduled to play four matches during the two day event.  Mary Baldwin was the opponent for Hollins in their opener before ending the day with a rematch against Methodist University.  Hollins came into the tournament having bested Ferrum College on Wednesday night.

Hollins took an early lead against the Squirrels and looked to carry the momentum they had gained during their comeback against the Panthers in their last match.  Hollins wasted not time in winning the first set, 25-18, and setting the tone for the remainder of the match.  Hollins continued to control the match and after playing some of their best volleyball to date, took the next two sets, 25-15 and 25-15, to earn their first 3-0 win of the season.

Senior Lauren Hays (Saginaw, TX) led a balanced attack at the net by recording six kills.  Jordan Persinger (New Castle, VA) and Jessie Deese (Cary, NC) added five kills apiece as Hollins only committed seven errors on their 63 attacks.  Lela Moore (Woodleaf) recorded four kills to go with her 22 assists, seven digs, and three blocks. 

In the night cap, Hollins looked to exact a little revenge against a Methodist squad that had defeated them, 3-2, in a match at the season opening Cougar Classic.

The match did not start the way that a hungry Hollins squad was looking for.  The Monarchs were able to grab the lead and seize control of the first set en route to a 25-19 win.  The next two sets went as the first with Methodist taking control and not letting Hollins mount any sort of rally.  Hollins fell 25-17 and 25-15 as the Monarchs defeated Hollins for the second time this season.

Deese registered six kills and 15 digs to lead Hollins while Hays and Rikki Martinez (Corpus Christi, TX) each added four.  Moore handed out 16 more assists and Haley Ortiz (Portsmouth, VA) recorded 12 digs.

Hollins will not have much time to rest as the play at 9:00am tomorrow morning against Meredith College before wrapping up play in a rematch with Ferrum in the afternoon.