SALEM, VA -- In the opening match of the day and led by the stellar match from first-year Celine Rhodes (Barhamsville, VA/James Madison), the WildCat volleyball team got back into the win column with a four-set win over Ferrum College in the opening match of the 2012 Maroon Classic, held at Roanoke College Friday. The WildCats won with scores of 25-17, 24-26, 25-20 and 25-13.

Randolph followed that with its first five-set win of the year, as the WildCats outlasted the University of Virginia at Wise for their first back-to-back wins of the season. Randolph took the first two games 25-18 and 25-20 before falling in games three and four, 25-20 and 26-24. In the last set of the day, Randolph showed a lot of fight in earning a 15-13 win.

In the first match, the opening set was all Randolph (4-15) to start, as the WildCats built as much as a six-point advantage early. The Panthers inched back into the set, pulling to within one at 13-12. Randolph rattled off five straight points to take back control, rolling to the eight point win. FC knotted the match at one game apiece in the second set, though Randolph rallied late to tie the match at 23. The 'Cats had a chance to win the match up 24-23, but FC took the last three points of the set.

The third set was neck and neck between the two teams, with the game being tied at 11 all. Randolph would post five points over the next six serves, eventually pushing the lead up to as much as nine at the end of the game. The fourth set proved to be all Randolph, as the WildCats used a 14-2 run to earn the match victory.

The star of the contest was Rhodes, who posted a huge triple-double of 20 assists, 12 kills and 11 digs. She also chalked up the even more uncommon 5x5, posting five or more in five categories with her five service aces and seven blocks. Jordan Templin (Ferrum, VA/Franklin Co.) picked on her hometown school, going for a match-high of 15 kills on 38 swings. Templin also registered 14 digs.

Sophomore Grayce Darden (Martinsville, VA/Martinsville) had six kills, eight digs and three blocks (two solo), and Marissa McClinton (Bealeton, VA/Liberty-Bealeton) had seven kills on just 17 attacks. First-year Andrea Mewhinney (Sanford, NC/Overhills) added 19 assists and sophomores Lexi Harrington (Clemmons, NC/West Forsyth) and Katherine Lesnak (Blountville, TN/Sullivan Central) had 20 and 10 digs, respectively. Sam Sublett (Bedford, VA/Staunton River) had five blocks and four kills for the WildCats, who totalled 11.5 blocks on the afternoon.

In the second match of the day, Randolph again got a massive effort from Rhodes, as she chalked up 17 kills on 30 swings, hitting at a .533 percentage. Rhodes added 24 assists, four aces, six digs and two blocks. Templin booked another double-double, registering 15 kills and 14 digs, and Darden finished with 12 kills as well. Mewhinney led the WildCats with 26 assists against UVA-Wise (2-17). Harrington had 12 digs in the match as well for Randolph, which finally captured its first win in a five-set match, having dropped its first six attempts this year.

Randolph will continue play in the Classic Saturday at noon against Hollins University in a non-conference tussle.

--RANDOLPH--