By Wesley Evans

BUENA VISTA, Va.—Despite maintaining a 6-3 lead in the fifth and deciding set, the Southern Virginia University women's volleyball team was unable to secure a victory over visiting Randolph College as it fell 3-2 by scores of 21-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-22,12-15 Tuesday night in Buena Vista, Virginia.  

The Knights (9-6) recorded more kills, assists and digs than the visiting Wildcats (10-4), but Southern Virginia's 43 total errors to Randolph's 26 proved costly in the defeat.

The home team led most of the way in set one, jumping out to a quick 5-1 lead before Randolph came back to knot the score at 8-8. Southern Virginia then held a 16-13 advantage, but the Wildcats would not look back after rallying off five straight points, winning the set off a Knight attack error.

Set two showed a back and forth battle between the two squads, with the score tied at 21-21, before Southern Virginia scored four straight, highlighted by two Vanessa Pawlak kills to give the Knights the win and even the match at one-apiece.

The Wildcats took a 3-2 lead in set number three, and would not relinquish that lead again, despite a push from Southern Virginia. The Knights turned the tables again in set four, after Randolph cut the Southern Virginia lead late in the set to 24-22, but senior Kaitlyn Eaton secured the victory with a kill off a Katelynn Tlustek assist.

In the fifth set, the Knights looked poised for a victory, jumping out to an early 6-3 lead; however, the Wildcats came right back going on a 7-0 run to take a 10-7 advantage. Southern Virginia got as close as 14-12, but after a Randolph timeout, senior outside hitter Jordan Templin secured the set and match with a kill off a Kerry McMichael assist.

Pawlak had a career night, leading Southern Virginia offensively with a season-high 22 kills to go along with a team-best 18 digs. Eaton and freshman Hannah Phillips also contributed 14 and 13 kills, respectively, helping the Knights to a season-high 70 total kills.

Tlustek assisted a season-best 50 of Southern Virginia's kills, while also pitching in 13 digs at the setter position.

Templin led Randolph with 18 kills on the night to go along with 15 digs.

Volleyball has seven days off before returning to action on Wednesday, Sept. 24 as it hosts a strong Roanoke College (11-2) squad at Knight Sports Arena. Southern Virginia will look to avenge an earlier season loss to the Maroons, as it fell 3-2 at the Washington & Lee Tournament. The first serve is set for 7 p.m.