LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph women's volleyball team hosted their first match of the season on Wednesday evening as the WildCats welcomed Southern Virginia to Giles Gymnasium. Randolph came back from a 2-0 deficit to force a deciding fifth set but the visiting Knights came out on top as they would hold off the WildCats 3-2 (25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 22-25, 17-15).

Randolph started the first set strong as it led 4-0. The Knights came back to knot the frame at 8-8. The teams would exchange a pair of points back and forth until Southern Virginia broke away to lead 19-17. The 'Cats countered with three straight points to go up 20-19. Randolph led 23-21 but the Knights tallied four straight points to claim the set 25-23.

The WildCats started the second set with a 6-2 lead. SVU came back to tie at 6-6 but the 'Cats would forge ahead 10-7. Southern Virginia grabbed the lead back as it led 17-15. Randolph would go on tie the set at 19-19 but the Knights used a 6-2 run to pull away from Randolph and claim the set 25-21.

The WildCats trailed in the third set 13-8 and 16-12. Randolph used a 9-2 run to go ahead 21-18. The two teams exchanged points but the 'Cats put up the last two points they needed to win 25-21.

The fourth set saw Randolph get out in front 6-1. The WildCats held on to their lead for the majority of the frame despite the Knights edging their way back in. Southern Virgina got to within two at 24-22 but Randolph got the final point of the set to win 25-22 and force a deciding set.

Randolph started off strong in the fifth frame as it lead 7-5 and then 9-6. SVU rallied to take a 13-11 lead. The WildCats would not go away quietly and they tied and then led 15-14. The Knights, however, picked up the last three points of the set to win 17-15.

Tahani Villines (Whittset, N.C./Williams) led with 12 kills to go with seven digs and four block assists. Jayda Domenech (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) had a double-double effort of 16 assists and 11 digs. Kailee Turner (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) added 14 assists and eight digs. McKayla Padgett (Amherst, Va./Amherst County HS) had a team-high 29 digs. Jillian Warter (Leesburg, Va./Loudon County HS) chipped in 14 digs. Brooklyn Finnerty (Lynchburg, Va./Timberlake) finished with seven total blocks as did Brooke Murdock (Evington, Va./Timberlake Christian). Mackenzie Woodson (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Collegiate) had five block assists.

Randolph hosts North Carolina Wesleyan on Friday night. The match will start at 6:00 p.m.