ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Despite a career-high 16 kills from senior
Melinda Clelland (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin H.S.), Radford fell to UNC Asheville 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22) in Big South volleyball action Saturday afternoon at the Justice Center.
The setback drops the Highlanders to 9-17 overall and 4-11 in the league, while UNCA improves to 15-11 and 7-6 with its fifth straight win.
A 6-0 middle blocker, Clelland broke her previous personal best of 13 kills, which was also set against the Bulldogs a year ago.
Radford's #
Laura Waddell# (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass H.S.) and #
Jessica Sullivan# (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands H.S.) also contributed double-digit kills with 12 and 11, respectively, while
Katelyn Meeks (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin H.S.) recorded her fifth consecutive match with 10 or more digs compiling 19. To go along with a match-high 51 assists, #
Kiley Kent# (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central H.S.) recorded 18 digs for her second double-double of the season, both coming against UNC Asheville.
Kelsey Benorden led the Bulldogs with 16 kills, while Cindi Miller added 14.
UNC Asheville used a .412 hitting percentage (16 kills) and a lengthy run in the opening set to grab an early 1-0 lead in the match.
In a back and forth second game, the Bulldogs used a late spurt to grab a 21-19 advantage, but the Highlanders reeled off five unanswered, highlighted by three Clelland kills to go in front, 24-21. Radford tied the contest at one game each on a UNCA miscue.
Behind strong play from Waddell and Sullivan, the Highlanders took an 18-12 lead in the third. UNCA got back in the set with five consecutive points to cut the deficit to one, 18-17. Tied at 23-23, the Bulldogs put themselves one set away from winning the match with back-to-back kills from Miller.
The fourth set was close in the early goings, before UNC Asheville grabbed the lead for good with a 5-1 streak midway through the stanza.
UNCA outhit Radford .268-.196, but the Highlanders finished with a 58-52 edge in kills.
Radford will conclude its regular season with a Nov. 16 match against Winthrop at Peters Hall. The “Senior Day” match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
