ALTOONA, Pa.- The Randolph men's volleyball team played its second straight day of matches at Penn State Altoona on Saturday. In a rematch from the previous night, the Lions defeated the WildCats 3-0. Randolph then defeated Gallaudet 3-0 in its second match of the day.
In the first set against the Lions, Randolph had leads of 9-5 and 11-8. PSU-Altoona used a 5-1 run to take a 13-12 lead. The 'Cats then went on a 5-2 run to go ahead17-15. The Lions' 6-1 run swung the lead back to the home team, 21-18. The WildCats rallied to knot the match at 23-23 but PSU-Altoona got the last two points it needed to clinch the set 25-23.
In the second set, it was tied at 3-3 until the Lions' 5-0 run staked it to an 8-3 lead. Randolph tried to narrow its deficit, but the Lions continued to add to their advantage as it led 22-15. The WildCats could get no closer than five points as PSU-Altoona again notched the last two points to secure the set victory.
The Lions led early in the third frame but the 'Cats were able to tie it four times. Randolph broke away late with a 22-21 lead. The Lions were too much in the end as they outscored the WildCats 4-1 to win the set and the match.
Mats Beentjes (Beverwijk, The Netherlands/Kennemer College) led the 'Cats with 14 kills. Conner Maher (Buckeye, Ariz./Odyssey Institute) had a team-high 31 assists. Elijah Woods (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory HS) led in digs with 10.
Against the Bison, Randolph led 16-10 but Gallaudet got to within one point at 17-16. The WildCats had a 20-16 lead and closed out the Bison with a 5-1 run to claim the set.
The Bison got out to a 5-2 lead in the second set. It was a 10-9 Gallaudet advantage until Randolph went on a 6-1 run to lead 15-11. The Bison tried to match the WildCats point for point but the WildCats had enough of a lead to stave off a Gallaudet comeback and win 25-19.
Randolph got out to a big 13-3 lead in the third set. The Bison rallied to get to within four points as late as 23-19. A kill by Zachary Septoff (Cumberland, Md.) followed by a Gallaudet attack error granted the WildCats the last two points to win the set and the match.
Beentjes led the WildCats in kills against with 11 and also contributed 10 digs. He hit .409 on the day. Maher had 25 assists. Woods had 10 digs. Septoff finished with six total blocks and five kills.
The WildCats return home to host Averett on Wednesday night. Match time is at 7:00 p.m.
