For Immediate Release – 9/28/16 - #060
WildCats Battle Against Marlins

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College volleyball team hosted Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) rival Virginia Wesleyan College on Wednesday night.  The 'Cats battled in every set, pushing the Marlins to the brink, but fell 20-25, 19-25, and 27-29.

Both teams went back and forth throughout the beginning of the first.  Randolph held an early lead, before extending it to 9-6.  The team saw kills from Autumn Troxell, Brooks Gillerlain, and Rebecca Lesnak during that run.  However, the visitors came back with 10 of the next 13 to take a four-point advantage.  Troxell had a kill and Gillerlain served an ace to break up the run.  Once again, the two sides began exchanging points.  The 'Cats cut it to two at 19-17, which included stellar play by Alex Mariona.  She registered a kill, an ace, and an assisted block with Olivia Pullin during that span.  Shortly after, the score became 21-20 after a kill by Gillerlain and a ball-handling error on the other side.  However, the visitors scored four straight to take the first.

VWC used its late run in the opener as momentum for the start of the second, getting out to a narrow 6-4 lead.  However, the WildCats came right back with four in-a-row to reverse the two-point advantage.  Gillerlain earned another kill, while Shelby Bergum added one, and Troxell blocked an opposing attack.  But Virginia Wesleyan began a burst of its own, switching the score-line again.  After the exchange of runs, points were next on the docket as the set stayed close throughout.  Lesnak, Pullin, and Mariona all had kills, while Troxell had two to bring Randolph within one at 16-15.  But the Marlins put together another timely run to push the lead out.  Troxell and Gillerlain had late kills but it was not enough as VWC won the second.

The third saw an early lead by Virginia Wesleyan get erased quickly by Randolph.  Lesnak and Mariona were on fire early, with two and three kills respectively.  Pullin added one as well.  VWC answered to take a 12-10 lead after a large run.  But the WildCats came straight back, scoring 10 of the next 12.  Mariona, Lesnak, and Pullin all registered one, while Troxell was on fire with two kills and an ace.  After a point by Wesleyan made the score 20-15, Lesnak slammed home a Troxell assist.  However, the visitors went on a run to within one point.  Back to back kills made it 23-20 for Randolph, but the Marlins tied it and earned first game point.  The game would be extended and the 'Cats nearly won it, before Virginia Wesleyan took the set and the match.

Troxell had a team-high 11 kills to go along with 14 digs.  Kennedy Webb and Taylor Webb totaled 28 digs, while Gillerlain assisted on 29 kills to go along with six of her own.

Doneisha Hall posted a game-high 14 kills for the Marlins (8-9 overall, 1-2 ODAC).

Randolph (2-12, 0-4) heads on the road for its next three matches.  The first two come on Saturday at a tri-match hosted by McDaniel College.  However, the first opponent will be Ursinus College, with the match beginning at 2 p.m.

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