The No. 17 nationally ranked Batten University women's volleyball team went the distance with Washington and Lee, falling in a five-set battle, 3-2. The Marlins took the opening and third sets, 25-23 and 25-23, before the Generals responded with wins of 25-20, 25-10 and 15-10 to close out the match.
Anna Moody turned in a tremendous offensive performance for Batten, leading all players with a career-night 28 kills across five sets. Moody accounted for nearly half of the Marlins' 61 kills in the match while adding two block assists. Aajah Vazquez joined her in double figures with 13 kills and four block assists, while Hannah Smith recorded nine kills and 25 digs.
On the defensive side, libero Brenna Raymond delivered one of the best performances in program history. Raymond finished with 49 digs, tying the Batten single-match record, while also recording three assists and a service ace. Her performance led a Marlins defense that totaled 130 digs in the five-set marathon. Caylen Carroll added 12 digs, while Niya Nash finished with 14 digs to go along with a team-high 40 assists.
Batten came out on top of a tightly contested opening set. After building a 24-19 advantage, Washington and Lee fought off four straight set points to pull within 24-23. Smith ended the comeback attempt with a kill to secure the 25-23 victory and give the Marlins an early 1-0 advantage.
The Generals answered in the second set despite Batten holding a 17-14 lead midway through the frame. Washington and Lee used a late run to take control, eventually closing the set with four consecutive points for a 25-20 win to even the match.
The third set featured 12 ties as neither side was able to create much separation. Batten trailed 21-19 late before responding behind its offense. A kill from Ava Baker started the push before back-to-back Moody kills gave the Marlins a 22-21 advantage. With the score tied at 23, Moody delivered again with a kill to put Batten at set point, and the Marlins finished off the frame, 25-23, to move within one set of the victory.
Washington and Lee forced a deciding fifth set after taking the fourth, 25-10. The Generals then carried the momentum into the final frame, eventually earning the 15-10 decision to complete the five-set match.
Batten finished the night with 61 kills, 59 assists, 130 digs and seven total blocks. Moody's 28 kills and Raymond's record-tying 49 digs highlighted the Marlins' individual performances.
