For immediate release – 9/5/2015 - #009
Double Sweep for WildCats on First Day of the Season
DANVILLE, VA – The Randolph College volleyball team started off the season with two three-set sweeps of Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) rivals at the 21st Annual Cougar Classic, hosted by Averett University. The WildCats defeated Hollins University 25-23, 26-24, and 25-21, before taking down Guilford College 25-23, 25-23, and 25-20 in the second match of the day.
The first match proved to be a very tough battle between the two ODAC programs. Hollins took two large leads in the initial set, one at 15-10 and then at 18-15, but each time the WildCats responded. Autumn Troxell notched a kill and then HU was forced into two errors which allowed the score to be tied. The set would be tied four more times, but Randolph finished it off after a kill by Alex Mariona and another HU error, ending the set at 25-23.
The second set, was very similar, seeing Hollins take a 15-8 advantage midway through. The 'Cats scored four straight with a kill each by Mariona, Marissa McClinton, and Rebecca Lesnak. But HU responded once again taking a three-point lead at 20-17. After another great WildCat run, including two kills by Noelle Wojciechowski, the score would be tied at 21 all. Back and forth action brought the score to set-point for Hollins, but Randolph finished off the set with three straight kills, two from Mariona sandwiched around one from Troxell, ending the set at 26-24.
It was Randolph's time to take the large lead in the third set, having a 19-10 advantage late in the set. However, Hollins scored ten of the next 12 points to cut the lead all the way to one at 21-20. However, the WildCats finished off the match with four of the next five points for a 25-21 win.
The three set victory saw five 'Cats get seven or more kills: Lesnak, Wojciechowski, and McClinton all had seven, Troxell had eight, and Mariona had a match-high 15. Brooks Gillerlain turned in a stellar performance in her first collegiate match, posting 30 assists and 12 digs.
"We started a little slow today but I was very proud of how we finished each set," head coach Kara Matthews said. "We have a lot of work to do moving forward but it was great to finally see us begin to gel adn work as a team with many new players in the line-up."
The first two sets with Guilford proved to be much different than the entire match with Hollins. In the initial set, there were 13 ties throughout, and the largest leads were four for Randolph and three for GC. After the Quakers once again tied the score at 23 all in the waning moments of the set, Wojciechowski finished it off following a Guilford error for the 25-23 victory.
In the second, the two teams went back and forth once again, with the 'Cats 13-10 and 14-11 lead the largest of the set. After the Quakers tied the score at 20 all, Randolph ripped off four of the next five, including two kills by McClinton. Then at 24-23, Troxell slammed home another Gillerlain assist for the 25-23 win.
After GC went up 2-0 in the third, Randolph took over and controlled the remainder. The 'Cats won the next seven and 11 of 14 overall. The WildCats pushed the lead out to 20-9 and Guilford responded with a run to bring the score to 24-20, but just as in the first set, Wojciechowski ended the set, and the match with a kill.
Troxell, McClinton, and Lesnak all finished with ten kills, with McClinton hitting an impressive .714. Gillerlain added 29 assists, and Katie Brown was great on the defensive side with 11 digs.
Matthews added, "Mariona played a large part of our success and was consistent both on offense and defense."
Randolph (2-0 overall) will complete the two-day tournament on Sunday. The WildCats will play William Peace University at 11:30 a.m. and Greensboro College at 3:30 p.m.
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