LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph men's volleyball team played its first home match in nearly a month as the WildCats hosted Randolph-Macon on Wednesday evening at Giles Gymnasium. The Yellow Jackets bested the 'Cats 3-0 (25-21, 25-18), 25-23).

Randolph-Macon got out to a strong start in the first set as they led 5-0 and then 6-1. Randolph rallied as they put up six straight points to tie the set at 6-6. The WildCats took a brief lead at 10-9 and then alternated points with the Yellow Jackets. The WildCats pulled away to take a 17-15 lead but the Jackets went on a 5-0 run to go up 20-17. Randolph pulled to within two points at 23-21 but the Yellow Jackets picked up the last two points to win 25-21.

Randolph-Macon led 14-7 in the second set. Randolph closed to within three points at 19-16. RM-C went on a 6-2 run in the end to claim the set 25-18.

Randolph was ahead 11-9 in the third set. The 'Jackets pulled out in front 14-11. It was 17-13 RM-C when the WildCats rallied with a four-point burst to take an 18-17 lead. After losing their lead, the 'Cats tied the set up three times with the final time coming at 23-23. The Yellow Jackets got a kill from Bryce Matthews and then an attack error by Shamel Smith (Tamarac, Fla.) to win 25-23.

Smith led the WildCats with 17 kills and added six digs. Conner Maher (Buckeye, Ariz./Odyssey Insitute) and Ian Arce (Sneads Ferry, N.C./Dixon HS) both totaled 16 assists. Noel Schmid (Wiesau, Germany/Stiftland-Gymnasium) had a match-high eight digs

Randolph is home again this Saturday as they host Roanoke in an ODAC match starting at 12:00 pm. The tri-match with Penn State Altoona ends with the WildCats hosting the Nittany Lions at 4:00 p.m.