INSIDE RADFORD SPORTS: Marci Jenkins on senior leaders Leigh Myers and Megan McWhorter


Radford volleyball, under fourth-year head coach Marci Jenkins, gets their season underway this weekend at the Asics Invitational hosted by Hofstra University.

Live Stats (all matches) | Live Audio/Video (Hofstra Only)

With the threat of Hurricane Irene moving up the east coach, Norfolk State has dropped out of the tournament leaving Radford, Manhattan and the host Pride. The Highlanders will battle to pride on Friday at 7 p.m. and take on the Jaspers, Saturday at 11 a.m.

The Highlanders return seven players from last year's squad and they are joined by 10 newcomers (8 freshmen). The returnees are keyed four seniors that saw significant action in 2010 led by Megan McWhorter (Newport News/Peninsula Catholic) and Carly Fleming (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park).

McWhorter paced the Highlanders with a team-best 246 kills (2.8 per set) and was third on the team with 200 digs. She recorded eight double-doubles and was named to the DePaul Invitational All-Tournament Team. Fleming, a middle blocker, charted a team-high 85 total blocks and was third on the squad with 188 kills.

Leigh Myers (Baton Rouge, La./Dunham School) and Yacine Meyer (Makawao, Hawai'i/El Camino JC) are the other half of the senior class. Myers, who may step in as Radford's setter, spent the majority of her first three seasons as a libero and defensive specialist has recorded over 800 digs the past two seasons, including 358 in 2010. Meyer battled through an injury plagued 2010 to post 42 kills and 80 digs in her first season in the red and white.

Rounding out Radford's returnees are a trio of hitters in junior Emily Hayes (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) and sophomores Emily Carlin (Downington, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and Jesse Miedema (Huron, Ohio/Huron). They combined for 373 kills and 75 total blocks.

With the addition of 10 newcomers and another returnee coming off a redshirt season, there will be several Highlanders battling for spots on the 2011 squad. Along with the eight freshmen, three members sat out 2010 as red shirts.

Following these weekend contests, the Highlanders hit the road on Tuesday for a non-conference match at Elon before returning home for the Radford Fall Tournament on Sept. 2 and 3.