SPRINGFIELD, OH.- The Randolph men's volleyball team faced host Wittenberg in the first match of the Jim Coleman Memorial Invitational on Friday evening. The WildCats took the first set but the Tigers would go on to claim the next three as they won 3-1 (25-22, 16-25, 19-25, 20-25).

In the opening set, Randolph led at one point 11-7. Wittenberg rallied the tie the set up at 11-11. The WildCats' 7-2 run put them ahead 18-13. The Tigers narrowed their deficit and would have the set tied at 20-20 and 21-21. The 'Cats outscored Wittenberg 4-1 down the stretch to pull away 25-22 and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The teams went back and forth to start the second set. The Tigers broke away with an 8-2 run to lead 15-9. After another exchange of points, Wittenberg's lead stood at seven, 20-13. Randolph would get as close as 20-16 but the Tigers ended the frame on a 5-0 run to win 25-16 and even the match at 1-1.

The WildCats led early in the third set 5-4 but Wittenberg's 7-2 run put it ahead 11-7. Randolph pulled to within a point but the Tigers' 14-9 run  gave them the 25-19 set win.

Randolph scored the first two points of the fourth set and still led at 3-2 until a Tiger run gave them a 6-4 advantage. The 'Cats came back to lead at 8-7 but Wittenberg countered and led 11-9. The WildCats closed to within two points at 19-17. Three straight points upped the Tiger advantage to 22-17. The WildCats could not generate a significant run in the end as Wittenberg held on to a 25-20 victory.

Elijah Woods (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory HS) led the offense with nine kills and also contributed eight digs and three block assists. Conner Maher (Buckeye, Ariz./Odyssey Institute) led in assists with 28 and also had two service aces. Zachary Elbert (Milaca, Minn./Milaca HS) totaled nine digs to lead the 'Cats. Mats Beentjes (Beverwijk, The Netherlands/Kennemer College) had an eight kill, eight dig effort.

Randolph is back at it tomorrow with a pair of matches. The WildCats will face Edgewood at 12:00 p.m. and Loras at 2:30 p.m.