VIRGINIA WESLEYAN, Va.- The Randolph women's volleyball team began its 2025 season on Saturday as they played a pair of matches at the Marlin Invitational hosted by Virginia Wesleyan. The WildCats lost to Plymouth State 3-1 in their first match and 3-0 to Westminster in the second match.
Against Plymouth State in the first set, the WildCats fell behind 3-0. Randolph quickly recovered as it rattled off eight straight points to lead 8-3. The 'Cats led 11-5 before the Panthers came back with a 9-1 run to take a 14-12 lead. Randolph went on a brief run to go ahead 23-20 and then 24-22. Plymouth State ended the set on a 4-0 run to win 26-24.
Randolph started out strong in the second set as it got out in front 10-2. The lead grew to 14-5 and then 20-10. The WildCats were firmly in control in the frame as they closed it out with a kill by Caroline Towle (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier) to win 25-16.
The WildCats again got off to a strong start as they began the third set on a 5-1 run. While the Panthers closed their deficit, Randolph pushed ahead 13-10 but the Panthers would knot it up at 13-all. Plymouth State led briefly at 15-14 and 17-15 but twice the WildCats would tie. The Panthers eventually edged ahead with a 24-21 lead and after the 'Cats closed to 24-23, won on a Fiona Bailey kill.
With the score knotted at 3-3 in the fourth frame, the WildCats went up 6-3. They would eventually go on top 10-6 and 17-14. The Panthers used an 11-2 run to overtake the 'Cats and win the set 25-19.
Towle had an impressive debut for Randolph as she finished with a team-high 14 digs and six service aces to go with seven kills. Brooklyn Finnerty (Lynchburg, Va./Timberlake) led with 16 kills and added three block assists as she hit a team-high .394. Kailee Turner (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) led in assists with 22 to go with eight digs.
Against Westminster, the WildCats fell behind early but rallied to take a 7-6 lead in the first set. The Titans came back with an 8-1 run to go up 14-8. Randolph would try to close its deficit late as it got to within five points at 21-16 but Westminster used a 4-1 run to win 25-17.
In the second set, it was 13-12 Westminster until the Titans went on a 12-1 run to win 25-13. The Titans led 3-0 in the third set until the WildCats tied it up at 3-3. It was a 4-4 set when Westminster went on a 12-2 run to go up 16-6. Randolph could not cut into its deficit as the Titans won 25-12 to take the match.
Finnerty led the team again in kills with eight as she hit .438 and put up three block assists. Turner had 11 assists. Towle was the team leader in digs with eight.
Randolph will travel to Roanoke College next Friday to participate in the Maroon Classic. The WildCats will face Salem at 1:00 pm followed by North Carolina Wesleyan at 3:00 p.m.
