MISENHEIMER, N.C.- The Randolph volleyball team traveled down to North Carolina on Friday night for a non-conference match with host Pfeiffer. The WildCats came away with the victory winning 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23).
Randolph moves to 10-9 overall on the season. Pfeifer drops to 11-6.
In the match, Sam Verhaagen (Virginia Beach, Va./Norfolk Christian) went over 1,000 digs for her career. She becomes the fifth WildCat in program history to reach the milestone and joins teammate Kennedy Webb (Nassawadox, va./Northampton), who reached the mark earlier In the season.
The WildCats fell behind 7-0 in the first set. Still trailing 11-5, the 'Cats began to mount a comeback as they got to 11-9. With the Falcons leading 20-18, Randolph went on a 5-0 run to lead 23-20. It was part of a 7-2 run, with back-to-back kills by Mackenzie Ambrose (Floyd, Va./Floyd County)to stamp the win.
In the second set, the WildCats broke at 6-6 tie to go up 11-6. Randolph still had a lead at 17-14 before the Falcons went on a 7-0 run to go ahead 21-17. The WildCats were able to close to 21-20 but a 4-1 Pfeiffer run gave the home team the set win and tied the match at 1-1.
The third set saw both teams trading off points in the early going until Randolph went ahead 10-7. Pfieffer went ahead 16-12 but the 'Cats again rallied to take back the lead and go up 20-18. Randolph stayed out in front and with the score at 24-23, Audrey Antesberger (Scottsville, Va./St. Anne's Belfield) laid down a kill to give the WildCats the set win.
Pfeiffer went up 11-6 in the fifth set before the WildCats knotted the score at 11-all. An 11-2 run bumped Randolph ahead 17-13. The Falcons rallied to wrestle back the advantage and go ahead 21-20. A 5-2 Randolph run to end the set, aided by four kills by Ambrose, pushed the 'Cats to the set and match win.
Ambrose finished with a season-high 21 kills on the night. Verhaagen had 19 digs with Taylor Webb adding 11.
Antesberger picked up seven blocks. Ambrose had five blocks and Lauren Morgan (Bedford, Va./Liberty) four. Morgan also had a team-high four service aces.
Randolph returns to Old Dominion Athletic Conference play as it hosts Guilford on Tuesday night. Start time will be at 7:00 p.m.
