ASHLAND, Va. — Cal Lutheran men's volleyball opened the Randolph Macon Invitational by taking down the Yellow Jackets 3-2, but fell to Southern Virginia by the same score on Friday night. 

Scores to the match with Randolph-Macon were 25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 22-25, 15-13, and scores against Southern Virginia were 25-21, 16-25, 24-26, 25-23, 9-15. 

Cal Lutheran vs. Randolph-Macon
The Kingsmen made a total of 54 kills, 29 digs, and 124 team attacks. Logan Marks led the way with 21 kills and Taylor Marks had 39 assists and seven digs.

The game started strong as the Kingsmen opened with two kills in a row. From there it was a battle with the Yellow Jackets as they fired back and forth. Every time the Kingsmen took the lead, the Yellow Jackets were quick to tie them once more. It was a close battle as the Kingsmen narrowly took the first set, 25-23. 

Randolph-Macon returned with a vengeance as they opened the second set. The game started with the Yellow Jackets in the lead, but the Kingsmen quickly overtook them. Cal Lutheran kept their momentum going, but the Randolph-Macon players slowly closed the distance behind the Kingsmen, 15-12. The Yellow Jackets managed to climb and really build up to a comeback, but the Kingsmen took the second set 25-22.

The Kingsmen opened the third set, but the Yellow Jackets were quick to take an early lead, 2-5. As both teams fought, Cal Lutheran managed to barely take back the lead 12-11. The Yellow Jackets didn't let the Kingsmen hold it for long as they overtook Cal Lutheran 16-19. The Kingsmen tried to make a comeback but they fell to the Yellow Jackets in the third set, 19-25.

Cal Lutheran opened the fourth set and pulled ahead in an early lead, 5-3. The Yellow Jackets managed to take the lead for a moment but the Kingsmen fought hard as the ball fired across the court several times, 15-15. Cal Lutheran continued to fight, but narrowly lost the fourth set, 22-25.

The Yellow Jackets carried their momentum as they opened the fifth set, but the Kingsmen quickly took the lead, 3-2. Cal Lutheran continued to carry their lead as the Yellow Jackets stayed narrowly behind them, 12-11. In the end the Kingsmen took the fifth set, 15-13, and the game, 3-2.

Cal Lutheran vs. Southern Virginia
The Cal Lutheran Kingsmen made a total of 44 kills, 41 digs, and 120 team attacks. Ben Weber led the way with 12 kills and L. Marks was next with 11. T. Marks had 40 assists and 10 digs for a double-double.

The Southern Virginia Knights opened the first set with a kill. The Kingsmen were quick to tie the game, 1-1. It became an ongoing battle as both teams fought hard, 7-7, before the Kingsmen began to pull away, 7-10. The Knights tried to catch up but the Kingsmen took the first set, 21-25.

The Knights returned determined to win as they opened the second set and took an early lead, 5-1. The Kingsmen tried to look for an opening, but the Knights quickly carried their momentum and controlled the court, 9-1. Cal Lutheran refused to give up as they began to make a comeback, 14-10. The Kingsmen's efforts weren't enough as the Knights took the second set, 25-16.

The Southern Virginia Knights continued their momentum as they took an early lead in the third set, 2-0. It became a fight as both teams tried to claim the set. Cal Lutheran narrowly stayed behind Southern Virginia, 14-12. The Kingsmen gave a final push to try and overtake the Knights, but it wasn't enough as Southern Virginia took the third set, 26-24. 

The Knights opened the fourth set, but the Kingsmen quickly tied them, 2-2. It remained a close game as the Kingsmen kept staying narrowly behind the Knights, 14-13. Both teams gave it their all, but it was the Kingsmen who came out on top and took the fourth set, 23-25.

The Kingsmen carried their momentum as they opened the fifth set with a kill. The Knights quickly took back the lead, 6-3. Cal Lutheran tried to keep up, but Southern Virginia kept their lead 14-9. In the end it wasn't enough as Southern Virginia took the fifth set, 15-9, and the game, 3-2. 

The Kingsmen's next game will be against Roanoke on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 8 a.m as they play in day two of the Macon Invitational.

Box Score: CLU 3, RM 2; SVU 3, CLU 2
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