ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The Randolph WildCats women's volleyball team is leaving North Carolina with a championship in hand and a 5-0 record to start the season. After an undefeated day one, the 'Cats punched their ticket to the championship with a 3-1 victory over the hosts NC Wesleyan Battling Bishops before taking down the Regent Royals in four sets to capture the 2026 NC Wesleyan Invitational.
SEMIFINALS (25-23, 27-25, 18-25, 26-24)
The Randolph WildCats opened the final day of the NC Wesleyan Invitational with a 3-1 victory over host NC Wesleyan, punching their ticket to the tournament championship. Randolph took control early, winning the opening two sets 25-23 and 27-25 before the Battling Bishops answered with an 18-25 win in the third.
The WildCats responded in the fourth, battling through another tight set that featured multiple lead changes before closing out the match 26-24. With the score tied at 24, Kelsey Bowler delivered back-to-back kills to finish off the set and send Randolph to the championship match.
Alyssa Thompson led all WildCats with 19 kills while hitting .198, while Makayla Waiters and Bowler added 12 kills apiece. Destanie Ambers contributed 6 kills, and Carly Schopp paced the Randolph offense with 30 assists.
As a team, Randolph recorded 55 kills on 162 attacks for a .198 hitting percentage and totaled six blocks. The WildCats also held NC Wesleyan to a .162 hitting percentage in the semifinal victory.
CHAMPIONSHIP (14-25, 25-23, 32-30, 25-20)
Regent controlled the opening set from the start, building a 13-6 lead before eventually taking the frame 25-14. Randolph responded in the second, battling through a back-and-forth set before using a late 4-0 run to erase a 20-16 deficit. Waiters then delivered the set-clinching block, giving the WildCats a 25-23 victory and tying the match.
The third set proved to be the turning point. Randolph held a 13-10 advantage early, but Regent battled back as neither team could gain separation. With the score tied at 24, the teams traded points deep into extra play. Bowler put Randolph ahead 31-30 with a kill before Ambers closed out the marathon set with a service ace, giving the WildCats a 32-30 win and a 2-1 lead.
Randolph carried that momentum into the fourth set, racing out to a 5-0 lead. Regent fought back throughout the set, but the WildCats continued to respond behind kills from Ambers, Thompson and Bowler. With Randolph leading 24-20, a Regent attack error sealed the set 25-20 and gave the WildCats the 3-1 championship victory.
Ambers led Randolph with 15 kills, while Thompson added 13 and Bowler finished with 10. Waiters contributed five kills, while Schopp paced the WildCats with 18 assists and Berger added 14.
As a team, Randolph recorded 45 kills, while holding Regent to a .110 hitting percentage. The WildCats also recorded ten total blocks, with Ambers leading the defensive effort with 29 digs.
For their efforts, Ambers and Cox were both named to the All-Tournament team.
With the 4-0 weekend, the WildCats improved to 5-0 on the season, their best start since 2011, when they kicked off the season 4-0 and their first 5-0 start in program history, dating back to 1977. Coach Kara Matthews picks up her best start as head coach and first tournament championship since becoming head coach.
The WildCats put their undefeated start on the line this next weekend at the Maroon Classic in Salem, VA. They will compete with Greensboro and Methodist on Friday, Sept. 11 before battling it out with NC Wesleyan and Brevard on Saturday, Sept. 12. All matches will be streamed live on FloSports. Sign up for your membership HERE.
