The No. 22 nationally ranked and third-seeded Batten University women's volleyball team will host fourth-seeded Lynchburg in the 2026 ODAC Women's Volleyball Championship Final on Saturday at 1 p.m. after defeating No. 23 nationally ranked and second-seeded Washington and Lee University in a thrilling five-set semifinal showdown, 26-24, 21-25, 12-25, 25-21, 15-8, on Thursday evening.
The victory marked just the sixth win over Washington and Lee in program history and the first time the Marlins have defeated the Generals in a match that went five sets. After falling to Washington and Lee in five sets during each of the previous two ODAC Tournaments, Batten turned the tables on the three-time defending conference champions, overcoming a 2-1 deficit to secure one of the program's most memorable postseason victories. The Marlins improved to 26-4 on the season, while the Generals fell to 24-5.
Senior Hannah Smith delivered a sensational performance for the Marlins, recording a match-high 27 kills, 19 digs, and one service ace. Valerie Nolan followed with 15 kills and 15 digs, while Aajah Vazquez contributed 13 kills on an outstanding .417 hitting percentage, committing just three errors on 24 attempts. Anna Moody added 12 kills, 18 digs, and two block assists. Senior setter Niya Nash directed the offense with 50 assists and 17 digs, while libero Brenna Raymond anchored the defense with a match-high 31 digs, seven assists, and three service aces. Batten finished with 74 kills, 69 assists, and 114 digs in the five-set victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set One: Batten 26, Washington and Lee 24
The Generals came out firing on their home court, jumping ahead 6-3 before extending their advantage to 11-5 and forcing an early Batten timeout. The Marlins responded behind a series of kills from Smith and Nolan, gradually cutting into the deficit. With Washington and Lee leading 14-9, Smith helped spark a three-point run that brought Batten within two, 14-12, as the Marlins began to find their offensive rhythm.
Washington and Lee maintained its advantage through the middle of the set, holding an 18-15 lead before Batten rattled off four consecutive points to take its first lead since the early stages, 19-18. Nolan and Smith combined for timely kills during the comeback, while the Marlins continued to battle through several momentum swings. Neither side could create separation down the stretch, with the score tied at 20-20, 21-21, and 22-22.
Smith delivered a pair of crucial kills to give Batten a 23-22 advantage before Vazquez pushed the Marlins to set point at 24-22. The Generals fought back to tie the contest at 24-24, but Vazquez took over when her team needed her most. The senior recorded back-to-back kills to close out the opening set, 26-24, giving Batten the early 1-0 match advantage. The Marlins registered 21 kills in the opening frame, hitting .231 as a team, with Smith leading the charge with eight kills.
Set Two: Washington and Lee 25, Batten 21
Washington and Lee responded with urgency in the second set, scoring the opening five points to establish an early 5-0 advantage. The Marlins answered with three consecutive points behind a pair of Smith kills, but the Generals continued to control the tempo, maintaining a 13-9 lead midway through the frame. Batten remained within striking distance as Nolan, Moody, and Smith contributed offensively, but Washington and Lee extended its advantage to 18-12.
Refusing to go quietly, the Marlins mounted another comeback. Trailing 19-14, Batten put together a five-point run behind kills from Moody, Ava Baker, and Nolan to even the score at 19-19. Moody followed with another kill to tie the set at 20-20, giving the Marlins an opportunity to complete the comeback.
However, Washington and Lee responded with three consecutive points to regain control at 23-20. Nolan briefly halted the Generals' momentum with another kill, but the hosts secured the final two points to claim the set, 25-21, evening the match at one set apiece. Moody led the Batten offense in the second frame with seven kills on a .385 hitting percentage, while the Marlins recorded 18 kills as a team.
Set Three: Washington and Lee 25, Batten 12
The third set proved challenging for the Marlins as Washington and Lee carried its momentum from the previous frame into the early stages. Batten briefly took a 3-2 lead behind a Smith kill and a pair of Generals errors, but Washington and Lee responded with three consecutive points to regain the advantage, 5-3. The Marlins remained close at 7-5 before the Generals used a four-point run to extend their lead to 11-5, forcing a Batten timeout.
Nolan ended the run with a kill, but Washington and Lee continued to build its advantage, stretching the score to 15-7. Smith and Vazquez provided offensive production for the Marlins, but the Generals maintained control of the set, eventually pushing their lead to 20-10. Batten struggled to establish consistency offensively as Washington and Lee's defensive pressure limited the Marlins to nine kills and a negative hitting percentage.
Nolan added another kill late in the frame, but the Generals closed out the set, 25-12, to take a 2-1 match advantage. With their season's conference championship aspirations hanging in the balance, the Marlins faced the challenge of winning consecutive sets on Washington and Lee's home court to keep their title hopes alive.
Set Four: Batten 25, Washington and Lee 21
Facing elimination from the ODAC Championship Tournament, the Marlins demonstrated their resilience in the fourth set. Washington and Lee opened with a 3-0 advantage, but Batten quickly responded with kills from Moody and Nolan to even the score at 4-4. After the Generals regained a 6-4 lead, the Marlins found their rhythm, scoring five consecutive points behind kills from Moody, Vazquez, and Nolan to take a 9-6 advantage.
The Generals answered with five straight points of their own, reclaiming the lead at 11-9. Batten refused to surrender, battling back behind Vazquez, Moody, and Nolan as the two nationally ranked programs exchanged points throughout the middle stages. Raymond delivered a timely service ace to tie the set at 14-14, and the teams continued trading points until Washington and Lee held a narrow 17-16 advantage.
With their championship hopes on the line, the Marlins seized control of the closing stretch. Vazquez delivered a kill to even the score at 17-17 before a Generals error and another Nolan kill pushed Batten ahead 19-17. After Washington and Lee cut the deficit to 19-18, the Marlins scored three of the next four points to extend their lead to 22-19. Smith delivered a crucial kill to make it 23-20, and Vazquez followed with another powerful attack to give Batten set point at 24-21. Smith then finished the job with a kill to secure the 25-21 victory, forcing a decisive fifth set and keeping the Marlins' championship dreams alive.
Set Five: Batten 15, Washington and Lee 8
With a trip to the ODAC Championship match on the line, the fifth set delivered the drama expected from two nationally ranked conference rivals. Neither team could establish an early advantage as the Generals and Marlins traded points through the opening eight rallies. Smith delivered a pair of early kills, while a block from Moody and Vazquez helped keep the contest even at 4-4.
Nolan gave Batten its first lead of the set with a kill to make it 5-4, and an Elizabeth York solo block followed by a Washington and Lee attack error pushed the Marlins ahead 7-5. After the Generals briefly cut the deficit to one, York delivered a critical kill to send Batten into the court switch holding an 8-6 advantage. Smith followed with another kill, and a Washington and Lee setting error extended the Marlins' lead to 10-6, forcing a Generals timeout.
Washington and Lee responded with two points to trim the deficit to 10-8, but the Marlins would not be denied. Smith delivered consecutive kills to extend the lead to 12-8, prompting another Generals timeout. With Raymond at the service line, Batten continued to apply pressure, forcing a Washington and Lee setting error before Smith delivered two more kills to complete a five-point closing run. The final kill sealed the 15-8 victory, sending the Marlins into celebration after completing the comeback against the three-time defending ODAC champions. Smith was unstoppable down the stretch, recording six of Batten's nine kills in the deciding set.
UP NEXT
The Marlins return home to host fourth-seeded Lynchburg in the ODAC Championship Final on Saturday, November 14, at 1 p.m. Batten will look to carry the momentum from its historic semifinal victory into the championship match as the Marlins pursue the conference tournament title in front of their home crowd.
