STAUNTON, Va.- The Randolph volleyball team played its next to last regular season match on Wednesday night as it played Mary Baldwin. The WildCats were able to defeat the Fighting Squirrels 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-22).
The win gives the WildCats on overall record of 12-13. Mary Baldwin drops to 1-30.
Randolph took a 4-1 lead in the first set but Mary Baldwin responded with a 5-0 run to go ahead 6-4. The Fighting Squirrels clung to a 9-7 lead but the 'Cats went on a 7-2 run to take it back and go up 14-11. Randolph's lead was two points at 17-15 before it closed out the set on an 8-3 run to win 25-18.
The WildCats had leads of 7-3 and 9-5 in the second set. Mary Baldwin began to chip away at its deficit as it was able to tie the set at 13-13 and 14-14. Randolph began to distance itself from the Fighting Squirrels with a lead of 23-18. Mary Baldwin put down three straight kills to close to 23-21but a service error and finally a kill from Tomi-Lauren McGinnis (Ringgold, Va./Dan River) gave Randolph the final two points to take the set.
The third frame feature several ties as neither team could sustain a run. Randolph went ahead 21-17 but the Fighting Squirrels kept up as they closed to 21-20. Kills from Logan Warren (Chesterfield, Va./Steward School) and McGinnis gave the WildCats a three-point advantage at 23-20. Mary Baldwin could not get closer than two points as McGinnis' kill gave Randolph the set and match win.
Warren led the offense with 10 kills on the evening while also contributing seven block assists and four digs. McGinnis added nine kills and five digs. Mackenzie Ambrose (Floyd, Va./Floyd County) picked up eight kills and nine digs. Taylor Webb (Nassawadox, Va./Northampton) had a team-high 12 digs with Sam Verhaagen (Virginia Beach, Va./Norfolk Christian)chipping in 11. Webb also had 31 assists. Audrey Antesberger (Scottsville, Va./St. Anne's Belfied) had seven block assists and hit .286 as did McGinnis.
Randolph hosts its final match of the season this Saturday as it welcomes Christendom on Senior Day. Match time will be at 3:00 p.m.