Box Score LYNCHBURG, VA – The WildCat volleyball team looks to continue its hot start this week with four matches. Ferrum College comes to town Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for Randolph's home opener, before traveling across town to take on three teams in the Lynchburg College Tournament Friday and Saturday. The WildCats started their season hot, earning victories in all three matches last week. Randolph knocked off Mary Baldwin College in three games, and then traveled to Shenandoah University for a tri-match. In those two matches, Randolph knocked off Hood College 3-1 and the host Hornets in five games. The 3-0 start was the first time since the 1994 season Randolph has started with wins in their first three matches.
Match Details
Opponent: Ferrum College
Site: Lynchburg, VA
Facility: The Den in Randolph Athletic and Dance (RAD) Center
Date: September 7, 2011
Time: 7 p.m.
Live Stats
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Match Details
Opponent: Lynchburg College
Site: Lynchburg, VA
Facility: Turner Gymnasium
Date: September 9, 2011
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Match Details
Opponent: N.C. Wesleyan College
Site: Lynchburg, VA
Facility: Turner Gymnasium
Date: September 10, 2011
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Match Details
Opponent: Johnson & Wales (NC) University
Site: Lynchburg, VA
Facility: Turner Gymnasium
Date: September 10, 2011
Time: 5:30 p.m.
What To Watch For
Randolph has played well thus far, but will get its real first test this weekend at the Lynchburg College Tournament. Lynchburg was picked in the top-three of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) this year, and that match could be a very good gauge of where the young WildCats are currently. Two matches at USA South competition should serve as good competition going into next week's ODAC opener against Hollins University. Look for first-year middle Shana Nelson (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) and setter Kerry McMichael (Westminster, SC/West Oak) to continue to lead Randolph.
A Look at Ferrum
The Panthers come into Wednesday's non-conference match with a 0-1 record, having lost to Emory & Henry College on September 1 in three games. In that match, Kayla Trippeer paced Ferrum with eight kills, while Jordan Link had four kills as well. Ferrum struggled in the match to keep points alive, as it posted only 17 digs in the entire match. Nancy Castillo, in her seventh year at Ferrum, is in a rebuilding mode after the Panthers won just one match in 2010.
A Look at Lynchburg
Randolph goes across town to take on their city rivals in a non-conference battle Friday. The Hornets are 1-1 as of Wednesday, as they take on Shenandoah this evening. The Hornets knocked off Marymount (VA) in four games after falling to Messiah College in four games last Saturday. Middle Rebecca Loftis had a team-best 12 kills in the win over Marymount, while Casey Parrish added 11 kills as well. Rachel Turk is the main setter for Lynchburg, as she posted 70 assists over the two games.
A Look at NC Wesleyan
The Bishops are currently 1-2 after last weekend's tournament at St. Mary's College. NC Wesleyan knocked off the host Seahawks after losing to Randolph-Macon College and Franklin & Marshall. Junior middle hitter leads the way for the Bishops, as she has 34 kills over the first trio of games. Anna Hart does it all for NCWC, as she is second in kills with 27 and has a team-best 37 digs. Senior setter Mackenzie Tingle has 56 assists on the year, best in the NCWC lineup. The Bishops were 24-11 last year under the direction of under 12th-year Robin Pietryk.
A Look at Johnson & Wales (NC)
The Wildcats are in their second season as a collegiate program, but they have been playing a very difficult schedule. JWU has already played 11 matches on the season, going 1-10 to this point. Their lone win was over Tennessee Wesleyan on August 27. The Wildcats sport a roster that is very young, as 10 of their 12 players are in their first or second seasons at Johnson & Wales.
Full Nelson
First-year Shana Nelson had a phenomenal week for the WildCats last week, posting back-to-back 19 kills performances in wins over Hood College and Shenandoah. Nelson hit at over a .500 clip in the Hood win, while posting multiple blocks in both matches as well. If Mallory Carter of Randolph-Macon hadn't earned AVCA National Player of the Week and ODAC Player of the Week, Nelson may have had a shot at the conference award. Nonetheless, she was honored on the ODAC Weekly Honor Roll.
Kerrrrrry, Kerrrrrry
First-year setter Kerry McMichael showed why the coaching staff was so high on her in the preseason, by racking up 108 assists over the first three matches. She is currently second in the league in helpers, posting nine assists per set from Randolph. She also picked up seven aces over the previous week.
Amazing Grayce
The first-year middle Grayce Darden (Martinsville, VA/Martinsville) is a very deadly hitter at the net, but she's proving to be just as dangerous from behind the service line. Darden posted 12 aces in Randolph's first three matches, which currently puts her atop the leader board in the ODAC. She is also in the top-10 in the league with 30 kills and a .310 hitting percentage.
Steady Megs
Junior Megan Wheatley (Sperryville, VA/Rappahannock Co.) continues her strong, steady play this season. She is so consistent with her production, as evident by her first week of output. Wheatley averaged just over eight digs, five kills and two aces over the first week. She is also a team leader for the young WildCat squad.
Hot Hitting
The WildCats have been hitting a pretty good percentage thus far, posting a .202 hitting clip through three games. Randolph posted only a .120 hitting number in 2010, so the production has certainly improved.
Dig Patrol
The WildCats fast start can be attributed to the strong back row play on defense. The WildCats have five members of the squad with double-digit digs, as Jordan Templin (Ferrum, VA/Franklin Co.) paced Randolph with a team-high 24. Sophomore libero Caitlin Glennen (Knoxville, VA/Karns) is right behind with 32.
Down the Road
Randolph opens ODAC play September 13 at Hollins University at 7 p.m. before taking on Eastern Mennonite University Friday, September 16 at 6:30 p.m. and Bridgewater College September 17 at 2 p.m.
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