Box Score LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College volleyball team honored its lone senior in Sam Sublett (Bedford, VA/Staunton River) Friday evening and turned in an inspired performance, but the WildCats couldn't close out the Eagles of Bridgewater College in dropping a five-set Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) match.
The WildCats (6-20/1-8 ODAC) were all over the Eagles early, who came into match tied for second-place in the league. With the score tied at nine in game one, Randolph rattled off a 7-1 run, using that spurt to propel the WildCats to a 25-19 win. Randolph hit a sizzling .323 in the first game, as Celine Rhodes (Barhamsville, VA/Jamestown), Jordan Templin (Ferrum, VA/Franklin Co.) and Marissa McClinton (Bealeton, VA/Liberty) all posted three kills in the set.
Randolph wasn't done there, as it posted 14 kills in only 22 attempts in running away with game two, 25-12. Rhodes had five kills in the set, while Templin added three kills and six digs. After intermission, the Eagles posted a quick 25-16 win in game three to prolong the game. BC forced a decisive fifth-set with a 25-18 victory in game four.
In the fifth set, Bridgewater (16-11/8-1 ODAC) were great offensively, chalking up 10 kills in the race to 15, earning a 15-9 win to take the match. Randolph was paced on the score sheet by Rhodes, who finished with 15 kills and five assisted blocks. Templin added another double-double, her 13th of the season and third straight, with 14 kills and a game-best 18 digs. Templin's 14 kills moved her into sixth-place on the single-season kill list.
Sublett posted five kills and three assisted blocks, while sophomore libero Lexi Harrington (Clemmons, NC/West Forsyth) had 15 digs. The WildCats finished the contest with a .239 hitting percentage (48-16-134), while chalking up 56 digs and seven total blocks. Setters Kerry McMichael (Westminster, SC/West Oak) and Andrea Mewhinney (Sanford, NC/Overhills) combined for 38 assists.
Bridgewater got a team-high 14 kills from Megann Grimes, while Cadie Castle and Katie Long each chalked up 11 kills. Lindsay Kallam dished out 37 assists, and Casey O'Leary had 17 digs from the libero spot.
Randolph finishes its home slate Saturday morning with another ODAC match, this time taking on Royals of Eastern Mennonite University at 11 a.m. in the Randolph Athletics and Dance (RAD) Center.
--RANDOLPH--
