LYNCHBURG, VA — The Randolph College women's volleyball team held a two games to one advantage but could not hold on in dropping a five-set thriller to North Carolina Wesleyan College Saturday afternoon in the first game of two for the WildCats at the Lynchburg College Invitational. Randolph rallied to knock off Johnson & Wales (NC) in three sets in the night cap.

Randolph struggled through game one of the first match, but started to hit well in game two taking the next pair of games with scores of 25-18 and 25-17. NC Wesleyan fought back though winning game four, and and held at least a two point lead for most of the fifth set.

First-year Grayce Darden (Martinsville, VA/Martinsville) had a very solid game for the WildCats, hitting at a .391 clip while finishing with 10 kills on 23 attempts. Darden also had five digs, five total blocks and three service aces. Fellow middle hitter Shana Nelson (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) continued her strong production, posting a game-best 15 kills on 30 attempts. Nelson chalked up six blocks in addition to her attacking numbers.

Newcomer Kerry McMichael (Westminster, SC/West Oak) registered the Wildcats first double-double of the season, going for 34 assists and 14 digs along with a pair of aces. Junior Megan Wheatley (Sperryville, VA/Rappahannock) was again stout with 12 kills, eight digs and three blocks, while first-year Jordan Templin (Ferrum, VA/Franklin Co.) had eight kills and six digs.

In the night match against Johnson & Wales, the WildCats controlled play during all three games winning in straight sets with scores of 18, 10 and 19. Randolph got a game-high 10 kills from Nelson, who also chalked up another solo block. Templin finished six-of-13 in the attack department, while McMichael had 25 assists. Sophomore Caitlin Glennen (Knoxville, TN/Karns) again had a game-high in the dig department, posting seven in the second match of the day.

Randolph is back in action Tuesday evening at Hollins University at 7 p.m. in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for the WildCats.

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