LYNCHBURG, VA.- The Randolph volleyball team hosted its first matches of season on Saturday afternoon as it hosted Mary Baldwin and Mid-Atlantic Christian. The WildCats rallied from down 2-0 to come back and defeat the Fighting Squirrels 3-2 and then easily handled the Mustangs 3-0. Both wins give Randolph a record of 2-1.

Against MBU, the WildCats struggled in the first set as they trailed 6-0 early on. Randolph was able to close to 6-3 but the Fighting Squirrels stayed out in front for the entire set. The 'Cats got to within six points of tying at 13-7 but a seven-point run by the visitors staked them to a 20-7 lead on their way to 25-11 win.

In the second set, the two teams traded points in the early going. Ahead 16-11, the Fighting Squirrels stormed back to go up 17-16 but the small lead disappeared as Randolph used a 5-1 lead to go up 21-18. MBU again rallied to take back the lead and go up 24-22 and eventually edged out the 'Cats to win 25-23.

The Fighting Squirrels took the first two points of the third set but Randolph rattled off seven straight points to go ahead 7-2 Mary Baldwin closed to 11-10 but the WildCats used a 9-3 run to jump ahead 20-13. The Fighting Squirrels closed the gap to 22-18 but a service error, bad set, and then finally a kill by Logan Warren (Chesterfield, Va./Steward School) shut the door on any Mary Baldwin comeback as Randolph won the frame 25-18.

Mary Baldwin led 5-1 in the fourth set and eventually 7-2. Randolph chipped away at its deficit and was able to tie on three occasions until pulling ahead 16-13. MBU grabbed the lead back at 19-17 but a kill by Tomi-Lauren McGinnis (Ringgold, Va./Dan River) and an ace put the home team ahead 20-19. After the Fighting Squirrels tied the set at 21-all, Randolph picked up the last four points to win 25-21 to send the match to a deciding fifth set.

The Fighting Squirrels registered the first point in the final set but Randolph recovered to lead 5-1. The WildCats' 11-7 lead disappeared as MBU tied it at 11-all. Once again, the WildCats were able to respond with the final five points to win the set and match to complete the comeback effort.

McGinnis led all WildCats in kills with 14 and added five digs.  Warren totaled 12 kills, and five total blocks (2s, 3a). Emily Barcenas (Lawrenceville, Ga./Lanier) had a career-high 29 assists to go with nine digs and two kills. Kenleigh Gunter (Troutville, Va./Lord Botetourt) also had a career effort of 19 digs. Madison Daniels (Warrenton, Va./Liberty HS) chipped in 10 digs. Melody Washington (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) led in block assists with four to go with her six digs and five kills.

In the second match, the WildCats had little trouble with the Mustangs. As a team, Randolph hit just shy of .300 at .299. MACU did take leads of 5-2 and 7-4 in the third set to make things interesting. The Mustangs' last lead happened at 11-9 before a 16-3 run by the 'Cats shut down Mid-Atlantic Christian.

McGinnis led a balanced attack with eight kills along with seven digs. Kylee Bennett (Fayetteville, Ga./Whitewater) put up six kills. Cydney Dewees (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) had a career-high 11 assists, three service aces, and five digs. Warren led the team in digs with eight. Daniels and Maria Tumminello (Suffolk, Va./Windsor) added six digs apiece.

Randolph travels to Roanoke next weekend for the Maroon Classic. The WildCats face Methodist at 3:00 pm followed by Greensboro at 7:00 p.m.