For Immediate Release – 9/23/16 - #053
Gillerlain Breaks 900 Career Assists in Loss

LYNCHBURG, VA – Brooks Gillerlain became only the sixth member of the Randolph College volleyball program to have 900 career assists on Friday, but it was not enough as the team fell to Southern Virginia University in four sets.  The non-conference match was decided 21-25, 13-25, 30-28, and 13-25.

The first set was a back and forth affair right from the start.  SVU took a quick lead, but the 'Cats answered with five of six.  Autumn Troxell posted the first two kills, while Alex Mariona added one, with Gillerlain assisting on all of them.  After the teams exchanged points bringing the score to 8-6, the visitors went on a small burst to take a single point advantage.  Southern Virginia extended the lead to three over the next several serves, but the WildCats tied it at 17.  Rebecca Lesnak started it with a kill, then served an ace, before Shelby Bergum finished it with a kill.  Each side then traded two-points bringing the score to 19-all.  However, the Knights used two three-point runs to take the first set.  SVU used the momentum of the first set and carried it over into the second, taking a 10-1 lead to start.  Randolph made a run to cut it, but the visitors pushed it out once more.  Southern Virginia carried the large lead to the victory and a 2-0 lead.

Despite the deficit, the 'Cats responded right away in the third.  Mariona posted three early kills, while Gillerlain and Lesnak each had one to help the hosts get an early 6-2 advantage.  SVU narrowed the line, but Mariona and Gillerlain combined for three more to push the lead to five.  Troxell served an ace to push the score to 13-7.  Points went back and forth before the Knights used a five-of-six spree to bring the game to 18-16.  Randolph tallied three thanks to an error, Troxell and Olivia Pullin combining for a block, and one more by Mariona, but the visitors answered again.  A burst was used by the visitors to take the lead at 22-21, but it would not last long.  Points were traded by both sides, with SVU earning match point.  Bergum then slammed home a pass by Gillerlain to tie it.  Lesnak served an ace setting up game point, but it would prove to no avail.  After being down one, Troxell tied the score at 27, but Penny Gwynn answered for Southern Virginia.  Troxell came right back to tie it once again at 28.  Mariona and Pullin combined again for a block, setting up game point, which was achieved thanks to an opposing error.

The final set saw the visitors jump out to a large lead.  Randolph tallied three-straight to cut the deficit thanks to Bergum and Troxell.  The team continued to fight, knocking the disadvantage to 16-10 after an ace by Gillerlain.  However, Southern Virginia scored four in a row to all but seal the set.  A final push was made by the WildCats, which included a Bergum kill that gave Gillerlain 900, but it was not enough as SVU won.

Gillerlain totaled 33 assists and 10 digs on the night.  She also added six kills.  Mariona led the team with 12 kills, while Troxell had 10 and Bergum posted nine while hitting .381.  Troxell led the team defensively, digging out 20 balls.  Taylor Webb and Lesnak each had 10, while Kennedy Webb recorded 11.

Gwynn led the Knights (2-7 overall) with 21 kills and 20 digs.

Randolph (2-11) returns to Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play on Wednesday.  The WildCats host Virginia Wesleyan College (5-8, 0-2 ODAC) at 6:30 p.m.

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