LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph men's volleyball team hosted Averett University and Wilson College on Saturday afternoon at Giles Gymnasium. The WildCats defeated the Cougars 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-13) and knocked off the Phoenix 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-19).
The WildCats improves to 10-7 overall and 2-4 in the ODAC.
Against the Cougars, Randolph got out to a 10-2 lead in the first set. Averett closed to within six points at 16-10. The WildCats continued to push forward as they added to their lead and won 25-15.
The 'Cats got out to a 4-0 lead in the second set. Averett rallied to make it 8-6 but Randolph rattled off five straight points to go up 13-6. The Randolph lead grew to 23-12 as the WildCats easily handed the Cougars.
The WildCats once again got out to a 4-0 lead in the third set. They would go on to take a 14-7 lead but the Cougars moved to within four points at 14-10. Randolph pushed further ahead of the Cougars as it went on a 7-0 run to go up 21-10. The lead was too much for Averett to overcome as the WildCats won 25-13.
Derek Smith (Alexandria, Va./Homeschool) led in kills with nine and hit .467 for the match. Blaine Richardson (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield HS) added seven kills and four service aces. Conner Maher (Buckeye, Ariz./Odyssey Institute) had a team-high 20 assists. Samuel Looney (Fort Worth, Texas/Trinity Valley HS) totaled six digs.
Against Wilson, the Phoenix led 3-2 but Randolph went on a 5-0 run to lead 7-3. The WildCats were ahead 15-11 but Wilson went on a 7-3 run to knot the score at 18-18. The WildCats pulled ahead 21-18 but the Phoenix closed out the 'Cats in the end as their 7-2 run gave them the 25-23 victory.
In the second set, Randolph led 10-2. Wilson came all the way back to pull to within three points at 20-17. The WildCats closed out the Phoenix down the stretch with a 5-1 run to win 25-18.
Wilson led 4-2 in the third set but the WildCats came back to take a 12-8 lead. A 6-0 run gave the home team an 18-9 advantage. Randolph held its lead right through the end as it won 25-17.
Wilson led 5-3 in the fourth set but the WildCats once again rallied to overtake the Phoenix 9-5. Randolph stayed out in front of the Phoenix the rest of the way as it won 25-19.
Noel Schmid (Wiesau, Germany/Stiftland-Gymnasium) led with 14 kills. Ian Arce (Sneads Ferry, N.C./Dixon HS) totaled 31 assists. Looney led in digs with 18.
Randolph travels to Eastern Mennonite on Wednesday. Match time is at 7:00 p.m.
