Women's Volleyball

Volleyball Continues to Re-Write Record Book in Sixth Straight Win

Box Score

BUENA VISTA, Va. -- The 2014 Randolph volleyball team continued to rewrite the program record book tonight in a thrilling five-set win over Southern Virginia.

Randolph earned its first six-match winning streak since 1995 tonight in a tight contest in Buena Vista.

With the win came two individual feats, as setter Kerry McMichael became the first player in program history to record 50 assists in a single match and senior Jordan Templin became the first player to 1,000 career kills.

The team's setter helped orchestrate a .287 hitting percentage on the night as she broke the three-way tie for the team's previous high mark of 49 assists in a match, which she shared with Caroline English.

"Kerry has been great for us all year," interim head coach Kara Matthews said after the match. "She is distributing the ball well, which makes it hard for opposing teams to read what we're doing. She put the ball great positions for our hitters today and they came through, as well."

In the first set, Randolph had just one attacking error in earning the win.

After sitting at 21-21, the WildCats went on a run on the setter's service, scoring the final four points, finishing on a block by junior Marissa McClinton and sophomore Alex Mariona.

Mariona, the ODAC's reigning player of the week, had kills on the previous two points, as well.

After the Knights took the second set, the WildCats took the third in convincing fashion, winning its first six points consecutively on the service of senior Katherine Lesnak.

The Knights fought to force a fifth set with a close victory in frame four.

The WildCats fell behind 6-3, but a kill from Templin put her on service, where her team won seven straight points to go up 10-6.

With that kill, Templin, who became the program's all-time leader in kills last week, became the first in program history with 1,000 kills.

She didn't stop there, however, putting away No. 1,001 to end the match at 15-12.

"Jordan's milestone is well-earned," Matthews said. "It's great that her 1,000th kill came at such an important time for us and helped us to a huge win."

Templin's 18 kills led the way, while McClinton added 12, Mariona had 11 and Lesnak had 10.

While the offense certainly was strong, the defensive effort helped as well. Templin had 15 digs, Lesnak added a dozen and McMichael aided her back line 10 times.

Leading the way, however, Lexi Harrington totalled 27, adding to her program record in the category.

"I am proud of the way we fought tonight through the entire match," Matthews said. "Our defense and aggressive serving allowed us to set up our offense. The two milestones were incredible, but tonight was a team effort."

Randolph has a quick turnaround as it seeks to continue its winning ways, with a trip to Bridgewater on Wednesday.

Last season, the WildCats topped the Eagles, who were leading the ODAC at the time, in an upset victory.

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