The Randolph-Henry varsity volleyball team wrapped up its regular season last week by splitting a pair of James River District matches.

On Tuesday, the ladies traveled to Dillwyn to face Buckingham. Paced by four of Kierra Jones’ game-high nine kills and two aces apiece from Jakya Pettus and Lindsey Kunath, Randolph-Henry took the first game in convincing fashion 25-13. The Lady Statesmen widened the margin with a 25-19 win in the second game behind three kills and two aces from Elizabeth Devin, but the Lady Knights would cut into it in the third.

Buckingham took the third game 25-18, but Randolph-Henry righted the ship in the final game with a 25-17 win.

Defensively, Randolph-Henry recorded 59 digs on the night. Kimmi Horsfall led the defensive effort with 19 digs.

Kunath and Kendall Bowman had 10 and 9, respectively; and Annie Sandridge and Cymirra Shuford chipped-in seven each.

“Tuesday was a great team effort,” said head coach Shep Critzer. “We were aggressive and focused and worked well as a team on both sides of the net. Defensively, we had some great plays and passed very well in transition.”

On Thursday, the team hosted Nottoway in a Senior Night showdown. Nottoway jumped out to an early lead and took the first game 25-17, but Randolph-Henry got some traction in the second game behind 7 kills from Jones.

The team lost the second game 25-21 but had gained some momentum. In the third game, Randolph-Henry got three kills each from Sandridge and Shuford and six digs apiece from Bowman and Horsfall to take the 25-21 win and narrow the Lady Cougar lead.

The two teams went point for point in the fourth game, taking things to the wire before Nottoway scored the final two points to take the match 25-22.

“The girls really came to play on Thursday,” said Critzer.

“We made some good plays and raised our level of play after the opening points of the match. Most of all, we were very pleased with the focus and determination of the ladies to come back. They kept battling until the end and gave us a chance to force a fifth game.”

Randolph-Henry competed in the Conference 37 tournament this week.