LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph volleyball team made the short trip across town to the campus of the University of Lynchburg for a quad match on Saturday. The WildCats faced Kenyon for the first time in program history in their first match of the day. The Owls had the upper hand on the 'Cats as they won 3-0 (25-19, 30-28, 25-18).
In the first set, Kenyon got out in front 13-4. After taking a 20-9 lead, Randolph closed its deficit with a 10-3 run to make it 23-19. The Owls, however, registered two kills for the last two points to win the set.
The two teams exchanged points to begin the second set while Randolph held a brief 5-3 lead. Kenyon took the lead away and was ahead 15-9. A pair of kills by Brooklyn Finnerty (Lynchburg, Va./Timberlake) along with a service ace by Jayda Domenech (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) brought the score to 15-12. Trailing 17-13, the WildCats went on a 7-0 run to go up 20-17. Finnerty had four service aces during the run. The Owls countered with a 5-1 run to go on top 22-21. Randolph regained the lead at 23-22. Kenyon tallied two points to make it 24-23. The WildCats answered each time at set point even leading 27-26 and needing one point to take the set. The Owls were too much in the end as they closed out Randolph with a 4-1 run.
Kenyon led 4-0 to begin the third set. Randolph's 7-2 run gave it a 7-6 advantage. The Owls jumped ahead with a 7-0 run. The WildCats came back to chip away at their deficit as they got to within a point at 18-17. The 'Cats still only trailed 20-18 but Kenyon outscored Randolph 5-0 to take the set and the match.
Brooke Murdock (Evington, Va./Timberlake Christian) led in kills with 10 and added two assisted blocks and two digs. Finnety finished with nine kills, four service aces, and one assisted block. Tomi-Lauren McGinnis (Ringgold, Va./Dan River) had 16 digs and three kills. Domenech matched Finnerty with four service aces to go with 11 assists and seven digs. Melody Washington (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) led in assists with 13 and also had five digs.
The WildCats won 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-23) over JWU in the second match. Randolph led 8-4 in the first set and pushed the lead to 13-5. With the lead at 19-13, the WildCats used a 6-0 run to close out JWU and took the first set.
In the second set, the 'Cats led 17-11 but Johnson and Wales slowly chipped away at its deficit. JWU went on a 7-1 run to go ahead 22-20. Randolph responded with a 4-1 run that ended on a kill by Madison Daniels (Warrenton, Va./Liberty) to give the WildCats the second set.
Randolph jumped ahead 9-1 in the third frame and the lead grew to 17-9. JWU's 8-1 run got it to 18-17. JWU tied the set twice at 20-20 and 21-21. The WIldCats were able to stave off a Johnson and Wales comeback as Finnerty laid down a pair of kills at the end to give Randolph the win.
Murdock led the 'Cats with 13 kills and six total blocks. Finnerty added nine kills and six digs. Daniels led in digs with 15. Domenech led with 17 assists to go with four digs. Washington chipped in 16 assists and four digs.
Randolph returns to Turner Gymnasium on Tuesday when it faces the Hornets in ODAC play. Match time is at 6:30 p.m.
