Box Score LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College volleyball team comes into a critical stretch of its season, as the WildCats are currently in ninth place in the conference, just a half-game out of the final spot in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament. Randolph will travel to Emory & Henry College Wednesday before entertaining Messiah College Friday evening for Senior Night. Randolph is coming off a 0-2 week, falling to Washington & Lee University and dropping a five-set heartbreaker to Virginia Wesleyan.
Match Details
Opponent: Emory & Henry College (13-8/4-4)
Site: Emory, VA
Facility: King Center
Date: October 19, 2011
Time: 7 p.m.
Live Stats
Match Details
Opponent: Messiah College (16-5)
Site: Lynchburg, VA
Facility: RAD Center
Date: October 21, 2011
Time: 7 p.m.
Live Stats
Live Video
What to Look For
Randolph still has a chance to make the ODAC Tournament, but it does need some help from Hollins going into the last week of the season. Randolph has to win both of its remaining matches in conference against Emory & Henry College and Lynchburg College, while the 'Cats have to hope Roanoke College can knock off Hollins. If all that happens, the WildCats will earn their first berth in the ODAC Tournament since the 2006 season. Randolph will also host Messiah College this Friday for Senior Night where Megan Wheatley (Sperryville, VA/Rappahannock Co.) will be honored before the contest.
A Look at the Wasps
The Wasps come into Wednesday's match trying to move up the conference standings, as they currently sit in sixth place. Morgan Grant has been the go to hitter for E&H, as she has 222 kills on 583 attempts, both team bests. Jamie Cockerham has 209 kills as well for the Wasps, while Nicole Tesh and Kimmie Caudill have been defensive forces at the net, combining for 108 blocks. Fallon Davis has 628 assists on the season, while Sam Lucado is chalked up 3.32 digs per set.
A Look at the Falcons
Messiah comes to town riding high with a four-game winning streak, posting a 16-5 record and a 7-0 conference mark in the PAC. Lauren Rees has posted an impressive 255 kills on the season, also digging up 265 attacks. Jessica Geib has helped her hitters with 626 assists on the campaign, while Emily Hall and Lindsay King each have over 100 kills. Messiah is a very good defensive squad, as they have three players with over 200 digs, highlighted by Megan Wise and her 397 digs.
Making it Count
First-year Shana Nelson (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) has brought many things to the WildCats this season, but one of them has been her efficiency on the attack. She leads the ODAC with a .362 hitting percentage and is 12th in the league with 182 kills despite missing three matches.
Efficient Cats
The WildCats have the second-fewest attack errors in the league this year, only posting 359 on the season as opposed to 801 kills. Randolph's hitting percentage is tied for second in the ODAC. They are also on pace to break the school record for attack percentage.
Helping Hands
The WildCats currently are averaging a school record 9.29 assists per set, which is almost three quarters of an assist more than the next highest mark. First-year setter Kerry McMichael (Westminster, SC/West Oak) and Katherine Lesnak (Blountville, TN/Sullivan Central) have done most of the distributing on the year.
Lexi Glass
First-year Lexi Harrington (Clemmons, NC/West Forsyth) has had an impact first-year, as the athletic libero is currently 17th in the conference in digs and is 14th in the conference in service aces in conference play.
Receiving Trouble
The WildCats have had trouble this season with their serve receive, as Randolph is currently second in the league in receiving errors with 175 on the campaign.
Aced
Randolph College has fared much better this season when its serve has been on point, as the WildCats are averaging 2.74 aces in victories as compared to 1.18 in losses.
Up Next
Randolph College will finish its regular season next week with a conference battle with Lynchburg College October 26 at 6:30 p.m. before heading to Maryville College for a pair of matches with the host Scots and Covenant College Saturday, October 29.
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