BRIDGEWATER, Va.- The Randolph volleyball team traveled to Bridgewater on Saturday for a tri-match with the Eagles and Regent University. The WildCats faced BC in the first match and were edged out 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 26-24). The one set won by Randolph snaps a seven-match scoreless streak dating back to 2015.
The WildCats trailed 10-2 in the opening set. A 9-2 run got them to within one point of tying at 12-11. Down 19-16, the 'Cats went on a 4-0 run to take its first lead at 20-19. After the Eagles pushed ahead 21-20, a kill by Brooklyn Finnerty (Lynchburg, Va./Timberlake) tied the set at 21-21. The Eagles would go on to outscore the Wildcats 4-2 to take the set 25-23.
In the second set, Randolph led 14-9. Bridgewater used a 12-2 run to jump ahead and lead 21-16. The WildCats got the score to 23-19 but the Eagles got the last two points it needed to take the frame 25-19.
The WildCats trailed 7-2 early in the third set but rallied with a 9-2 run to lead 11-9. BC rattled off four points to take the lead away and lead 13-11. Randolph edged ahead with a run to take a 22-19 lead. The Eagles closed to 22-21 but the WildCats finished off the Eagles with a three-point burst to take the set 25-21.
In the fourth set, Randolph led 10-5 and as late as 22-17. The WildCats were at set point at 24-22 but the Eagles came all way back to tally four straight points to overtake the 'Cats and take the frame 26-24.
Finnerty led the WildCats with 13 kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Brooke Murdock (Evington, Va./Timberlake Christian) added nine kills while Tahani Villines (Whitset, N.C./Williams) contributed eight kills and eight digs. Jayda Domenech (Virgina Beach, Va./Kempsville) totaled 16 assists and Izzy Allen (Williamsburg, Va./Peninsula Catholic) 14 assists. Gracie Fulton (Staunton, Va./Riverheads) led in digs with 17.
The WildCats defeated Regent 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-15) in the second match. In the first set, Randolph got out to a 6-2 lead and then doubled it at 16-8. The Royals closed to within two points at 19-17 but the 'Cats were able to stay ahead and take the set 25-22.
In the second set, the two teams were neck and neck with each other for most of the frame with the score eventually standing at 16-16. Randolph was able to break away from Regent as it went on an 8-0 run. Regent tallied three straight points but a kill by McKayla Padgett (Amherst, Va./Amherst County) gave the WildCats the 25th point to win the set 25-19.
Randolph had leads of 13-7 and 17-9 in the third set. The WildCats had a comfortable lead for the remainder of the frame as they won 25-15.
Finnerty led in kills with 16 on a .750 hitting percentage. Allen led in assists with 15 and Domenech contributed 14 assists. Villines was the digs leader with 14 while Domenech chipped in 10.
The WildCats host Shenandoah next Friday night at Giles Gymnasium. The match starts at 6:30 p.m.
