HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Randolph was one point away from winning its first ODAC match of the year but fell in five sets to Eastern Mennonite. 

Randolph (5-2, 0-1 ODAC) burst out to a 10-2 lead in the first set before cruising to a 25-14 victory to take a 1-0 lead.

Set two looked to be heading in the same direction as the WildCats opened up a 7-2 lead early, but EMU (5-5, 1-0 ODAC) cut the lead to 15-12 before reeling off nine of the next 10 points to take a 21-16 edge. Randolph pulled within 21-20, but the Royals closed out the set to level the match at 1-1.

In the third set, while there were no long streaks, Randolph earned at least one point on nine of its first 10 services opportunties, gaining chunks of points at a time to earn a 2-1 lead.

The fourth set started with the two teams alternating the first six points, indicitive of the tight set to come.

The 11th tie of the set put the teams level at 22-22 before EMU scored two straight to earn a set point. 

A pair of kills by junior Jordan Templin (Ferrum, Va./Franklin Co.) assisted by classmate Kerry McMichael (Westminster, S.C./West Oak) left the teams deadlocked at 24.

After a Royal point, Noelle Wojciechowski (Greensboro, N.C./Page) fended off another set point before Templin struck again to give Randolph a match point.

Three straight from the hosts quickly swung momentum, however, forcing a fifth frame. 

The first four points of the decisive set went to the Royals, flying high after staying alive. After a strong EMU run, the WildCats could only fend off one match point, falling 15-8. 

Templin finished with the second-most kills of her career, 18. Sophomore Marissa McClinton (Bealeton, Va./Liberty-Bealeton) and rookie Noelle Wojciechowski (Greensboro, N.C./Page) each topped career marks with 11 and 10 kills respectively.

McMichael assisted on 43 points, the most since the third match of her career on Sept. 3, 2012.