For Immediate Release – 9/14/16 - #041
Randolph Drops ODAC Opener

EMORY, VA – The Randolph College volleyball team began Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play on Wednesday against Emory & Henry College.  The WildCats fell in three sets, 20-25, 16-25, and 16-25.

The first game went back and forth during the early stages.  Points were traded as it was tied 5-5, with Autumn Troxell, Shelby Bergum, and Lauren Morgan all picking up kills.  The Wasps picked up seven of the next nine to extend an advantage.  The 'Cats came back with two, courtesy of Troxell and an ace by Sam Verhaagen, but the hosts once again used a small burst to extend their lead.  With the score being 18-12, the WildCats embarked on a massive comeback.  Bergum posted two kills during the run, while Alex Mariona and Troxell also slammed one home.  Finally, Morgan and Mariona blocked an opposing attack to put the score at 21-19 for E&H.  However, Emory & Henry closed it out with a run of their own.

The momentum created near the end of the first carried over to the second for Randolph, with Troxell and Brooks Gilerlain contributing to a 5-3 lead.  The Wasps responded, but the 'Cats continued to hold the early advantage at 7-6.  E&H used a quick burst to take a small two-point advantage, but the WildCats continued to battle in the second.  The gap remained at one at 13-12, but the home team used a large run to take a commanding lead that they would hold onto for the rest of the set.

However, Randolph battled back at the start of the third, coming out to the same 5-3 lead they had in the second.  This time, the 'Cats held the lead until 8-7, when they began to exchange points.  A tie ensued at 10-10, and an error by the Wasps brought the score to 12-11, in favor of Emory & Henry.  E&H then scored four quick runs in a row, but Randolph answered as Rebecca Lesnak had a kill and Troxell and Bergum combined for a block.  But after the score became 15-19, the Wasps scored five straight before closing out the match.

Troxell led the team with nine kills, while Bergum hit a remarkable .857 on six kills.  She added three block assists, as the team had eight total.  Gillerlain recorded 20 assists on the night, which puts her two away from a tie for sixth-place on the all-time records at Randolph.  Verhaagen led the 'Cats with 10 digs.

Sam MaCauley had a match-high 23 assists for the Wasps (7-4 overall, 1-0 ODAC).

Randolph (2-8, 0-1) will play at home for only the second time this season on Saturday.  The WildCats take on fellow ODAC rival Roanoke College (8-1, 1-0)

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