LYNCHBURG, Va- The Randolph women's volleyball team hosted Johnson and Wales and Regent on Saturday in non-conference action. The WildCats picked up two wins on the day as they were 3-0 winners (25-9, 25-18, 25-11) over JWU and 3-1 victors (25-9, 18-25, 25-21, 25-23) over the Royals.
With the pair of wins, Randolph evens its overall record at 12-12.
In the first set against Johnson and Wales, the WildCats got out to a 7-1 lead. With the score at 9-4, the 'Cats went on an 8-1 run to go up 17-5. Randolph would go on to score the last six points of the set to easily win the frame.
In the second set, Randolph led from the beginning. JWU closed to within three points at 16-13. The WildCats would outscore Johnson and Wales 9-5 down the stretch as they would win 25-18.
Randolph got out to a 5-0 lead in the third frame and eventually went up 7-1. JWU closed the gap to 9-6 but a 9-2 run by the 'Cats gave the home team an 18-8 lead. With a 20-11 lead, Randolph ended with a 5-0 run to take the set and the match.
Brooke Murdock (Evington, Va./Timberlake Christian) and Jillian Warter (Leesburg, Va./Loudon County HS) both had nine kills and hit .692 for the match. Murdock also contributed four total blocks and five digs. Tahani Villines (Whittset, N.C./Williams) chipped in seven kills as she hit .583 and led in digs with 13. Jayda Domenech (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) totaled 21 assists. As a team, the WildCats had a season-high .480 hitting percentage.
In the Regent match, the WildCats had another strong start as they got ahead 8-2. The lead grew to 15-3 and the 'Cats dominated the rest of the way winning 25-9.
The Royals led 3-0 in the second set and the WildCats came back to tie it up at 3-3. Randolph briefly took the lead but Regent wrestled it away as it led 10-7. The WildCats hung in and went on to tie the set at 16-16. The Royals, however, broke away with a 9-2 run to win the set 25-18 and even the match at 1-1.
In the third set, Randolph led 11-7 and broke off a 4-0 run to up their advantage to 15-7. Regent came back to tie the set at 19-19 and 20-20. Three straight kills by the WildCats put them up 23-20 and was part of a 5-1 run that gave the 'Cats a 25-21 win.
The Royals led early in the fourth set 15-11 and their lead grew to six points at 21-15. Randolph rallied with a 6-0 run to knot the frame at 21-21. Regent went back ahead at 22-21. The WildCats put the Royals away with a 4-1 run that ended with a Murdock kill.
Warter led with 15 kills. Murdock added nine kills and seven total blocks. Domenech finished with 27 assists and 13 digs while Kailee Turner (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) tacked on 16 assists. Villines totaled 31 digs.
Randolph returns to ODAC play on Wednesday when it travels to Averett. The match will start at 7:00 p.m.
