Salem, VA - Friday was the opening day of the 2015 Roanoke College Maroon Classic volleyball tournament.  Hollins faced a pair of USA South opponents on the tournament's first day.  Ferrum was up first for Hollins before a rematch with Mary Baldwin in the early evening.

Hollins faced the Panthers for the first of three scheduled matchups this season in their first of four matches this weekend.  Ferrum wasted little time in taking control of the game.  The first set was all Ferrum as the Panthers cruised to a 25-14 victory.  After a slow start, Hollins dug in their heels and matched their foe point for point for the remainder of the match.  After losing a hard fought, 27-25, second set, Hollins found their backs squarely against the wall.  In another close set, Hollins once again fell just short, 25-23, giving the Panthers a 3-0 win.

Haley Ortiz (Portsmouth, VA) led Hollins with six kills while seniors Rikki Martinez (Corpus Christi, TX) and Emily Lowther (Woodbridge, VA) added four kills apiece.  Lela Moore (Woodleaf, NC) handed out 14 assists and Torri Jolly (Linden, NC) registered a team high 11 digs.

In their second match, Hollins squared off with Mary Baldwin for the second time this week.  Hollins traveled to Staunton and swept the Squirrels on Wednesday night.  Hoping for a repeat performance, Hollins dominated the opening set, 25-17.  However, Mary Baldwin battled back and won their first set against Hollins, 25-16, tying the match at 1-1.  The third set proved pivotal as Hollins once again seized control of the match with a 25-16 set win and carried that momentum into the fourth and final set.  Hollins made it two in a row over the Squirrels by taking the set 25-13 and the match 3-1, earning a split on the opening day of play.

Martinez added six more kills to her total and Lowther recorded five kills as Hollins used a balanced attack to defeat Mary Baldwin.  Deja Hadden (Norfolk, VA) added four points at the net and Amelia Eyles (Millwood, VA) led the defense with six blocks.  

Hollins will wrap up tournament play on Saturday when they face the host Maroons of Roanoke College at 2:00pm before playing in the finale against Meredith College at 5:00pm.