For immediate release – 10/10/2015 - #071
WildCats Split at MU Tri-Match
FAYATTEVILLE, NC – The Randolph College volleyball team played in a tri-match at Methodist University on Saturday, and split the two contests. The 'Cats fell in the opener to the hosts 25-22, 8-25, 14-25, and 12-25, but came back to sweep Wesley College 25-21, 25-21, and 26-24 in the second match of the day.
In the first set against Methodist, the WIldCats found themselves down four early, but the 'Cats came right back. Elisabeth Price began serving and Randolph won five-straight, taking the lead, with Price serving an ace. After the Monarchs tied it, Autumn Troxell killed three passes and Noelle Wojciechowski had one as Randolph went up 14-11. The two teams traded points, until MU scored four of five to tie the score at 17, which was followed again by the teams exchanging points. Troxell, Wojciechowski, and Rebecca Lesnak added kills as Randolph went up 21-19. After each team went back and forth, including an additional kill by both Troxell and Wojciechowski, the 'Cats forced the Monarchs into two errors to close out the set.
The second game started the same as the first, but the WildCats responded to within one, with Troxell getting another kill. MU answered with a large run to take a commanding lead, which it would hold until eventually winning the set.
Randolph went up two at the beginning of the set, with Troxell, Price, and Brittany Nicholson each finishing off passes from Brooks Gillerlain. However, the Monarchs came back with 10 of the next 11 to take a large lead. The 'Cats made one last push, as Troxell, Lesnak, and Wojciechowski slammed home passes, but it would not be enough as Methodist won the set. Methodist won the first six points to start the fourth, but the 'Cats cut it to four following a Nicholson kill. But the Monarchs went on another run, which was stopped by the Gillerlain-Troxell connection. MU kept the lead and extended it until finishing off the match.
Troxell had 13 kills and five digs, while Price added a team-high 13. Gillerlain assisted on 22 kills in the first match of the day.
The second match of the day started well, as the WildCats took a 3-1 lead. After one more point by Wesley, the 'Cats responded with four-straight. Troxell and Andrea Mewhinney had kills during that time. Following a small Wolverine burst, Randolph extended its advantage to five. The 'Cats held it throughout the next several points thanks to kills by Alex Mariona, Troxell, and Wojciechowski. The lead grew after an ace by Wojciechowski and a kill by Troxell, and the WildCats kept it until taking the set.
Both sides went back and forth once again until the teams were tied at four. Mariona and Troxell each had a kill and Wojciechowki recorded two. Randolph followed it with 10 of the next 12 points to take a resounding lead. Mariona and Troxell both slammed two passes perfectly. The 'Cats kept the lead at more than seven, until a late run by WC cut it to four. But the WildCats went on a small run with Mariona recording two more, before Lesnak finished off the set from a pass from Mewhinney.
Wesley won the first three of the third, but Randolph responded with four straight, as Mariona, Lesnak, and Wojciechowski provided the firepower. The two teams once again exchanged points, being tied several times until 11-11. After the Wolverines went up two, the WildCats came right back with four in a row. Wojciechowski had two, Lesnak had one, and Mariona served up an ace. The two teams then found themselves locked in a duel as they were tied several more times. After Troxell tied the score at 20, the Wolverines scored three in a row. Gillerlain then sent one over, and assisted on Wojciechowksi's as the score would be 23-22 Wesley. WC scored the next, but Lesnak and Jasmine Tapscott sent kills on the other side to tie it. Following a Wesley timeout, the WildCats forced the Wolverines into two errors, and the 'Cats left with the sweep.
There were four different WildCats with eight or more kills: Troxell (11), Mariona and Wojciechowski (9), and Lesnak (8). Price had another solid game defensively, registering 20 digs, and Gillerlain had her second match of the day with 20-plus assists. She had 23, while Mewhinney added 11.
Randolph (4-18 overall) stays on the road this week, but returns to conference play. The WildCats travel to Virginia Wesleyan College on Tuesday, with the match beginning at 7 p.m.
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