WINCHESTER, Va.- On Saturday afternoon, the Randolph women's volleyball team returned the court after over a year layoff as the WildCats played host Shenandoah and Mount Aloysius in a tri-match at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center. The WildCats and Hornets went to five sets with SU pulling out a 3-2 victory (18-25, 25-13, 20-25, 25-15, 20-18).
Against the Hornets. Randolph got out to a 4-0 lead and led by as much as 8-2. The WildCats led by as much as nine points, 20-11. Shenandoah got as close as 20-14 but the team traded off points for the rest of the set as the 'Cats won 25-18.
The WildCats led early in the second set 4-2 but the Hornets rallied to tie and then took the lead. Randolph was still within striking distance with SU ahead 14-11. The Hornets, however, went on an 11-2 run to close out the set and win 25-13 to tie the match at 1-1.
The third set was tight in the early going. Shenandoah held a 6-5 lead but Randolph used an 8-1 run to jump ahead 13-7. The 'Cats went on to win 25-20 and regained the lead in the match 2-1.
The Hornets took a 7-3 lead in the fourth set. Randolph closed to within two points, 14-12, but another SU run, 10-0, gave the hosts a 22-12 lead that they would not relinquish.
The WildCats had leads of 7-3 and 10-6 in the fifth and final set. Randolph's four-point lead would disappear as the Hornets tied at 11-11. An attack error by SU and a kill by Tomi-Lauren McGinnis (Ringgold, Va./Dan River) put Randolph ahead 13-11. After SU tied, the WildCats went up 14-13 on a service error by the Hornets' Kate Poppo. An error on Lindsey Taylor (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) gave SU a point to tie at 14-14. The two teams exchanged points and the 'Cats had the score tied at 18-18. Shenandoah picked up the last two points to win 20-18 and claim the match.
Mackenzie Ambrose (Floyd, Va./Floyd County) tallied a double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs. Melody Washington (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) finished with 28 assists and 15 digs. Logan Warren (Chesterfield, Va./Steward School) led the WildCats with 13 kills and four service aces to go with three block assists. Taylor finished with 13 digs.
The second match saw the Mounties win 3-1 (25-23, 26-24, 16-25, 25-20). The first set had Mount Aloysius get out to a 7-0 lead. The WildCats slowly but surely chipped away at their deficit and after trailing 16-12, were able to go ahead 17-16 after a 5-0 run. The two teams traded off points with the set standing at 21-21. The Mounties rattled off five straight points to go ahead 24-21 but the WildCats were able to close to 24-23. A kill by the Mounties Kyle Wadsworth gave MAC the win.
Much like the first set, Mount Aloysius got off to a strong start in the second frame as it led 7-2. The lead grew to 13-6 but Randolph again battled its way back to eventually trail 17-16. The WildCats knotted it at 24-24 but attack errors by Warren gave the Mounties two points to claim the frame.
It was the WIldCats' turn in the third set as they got out ahead 6-1 and eventually 13-4. The lead increased to 21-7 and despite being outscored 9-3 down the stretch, the 'Cats were able to knock the Mounties off and win 25-16.
Mount Aloysius scored the first six points in the fourth set and went on top 8-2. Randolph was able to close to within two points at 12-10 and again at 13-11. Trailing 17-12, the WildCats used an 8-1 run to lead 20-18. MAC, however, went on a 7-0 run of its own to overtake the 'Cats and win the set and match.
Washington had a strong performance with 30 assists and 17 digs. Kenleigh Gunter (Troutville, Va./Lord Botetourt) also put up 17 digs. Ambrose led in kills with 17 and added 15 digs. McGinnis and Madison Daniels (Warrenton, Va./Liberty) both finished with 12 digs each with McGinnis adding six kills and Daniels three service aces.
Randolph heads to Eastern Mennonite next Sunday. Match time will be at 3:00 p.m.
