MEEKS BREAKS DIGS MARK IN FIVE-SET HEARTBREAKER TO CHANTICLEERS

BOX SCORE CONWAY, S.C. – Katelyn Meeks notched 22 digs and broke the program's career digs record in the fourth frame, but the Radford volleyball team fell in five sets (18-25, 22-25, 28-26, 25-19, 14-16) to Coastal Carolina, Friday, at The HTC Center.

Emily Carlin tied her career-high with 21 kills and added 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Jena Braden charted her fourth double-double of the year as well, contributing 23 assists and 10 digs. Christine Beckham tossed out 19 assists for the Highlanders (12-11, 2-4 BSC). Emma Deininger recorded five of RU's 13 total blocks.

Gabriella Horvath put down a team-best 16 kills, while Meghan Laffin and Monica Hall added 12 and 11, respectively. Lauren Alejo assisted on a match-high 39 attacks for the Chanticleers (6-10, 4-2 BSC). Defensively, CCU was led by Jenna Orner's 24 digs and Kindra Bailey's five total blocks.

Radford established an 8-4 lead early in the first set, but the Chanticleers came back to tie it at 13. CCU took a brief 16-14 lead, but the Highlanders won the next two points to square the frame. A 4-0 spurt by Coastal gave the hosts enough separation to finish off the set with the 25-18 win.

The Chanticleers outscored RU, 4-1, in the early stages of the second stanza. The hosts stretched that lead to 14-9, prompting a Radford timeout. The Highlanders responded out of the break with a 13-6 run to take a 22-20 lead and force CCU to burn a timeout. The Chanticleers rallied out of the break with a 5-0 run to go ahead 2-0 in the match.

The third set was a thriller with 17 ties and nine lead changes. With the score 19-13, the Highlanders reeled off three straight points to pull within three (19-16). Coastal got its first crack at match point following a Kindra Bailey kill to make it 24-22.

Radford fought off two match points and took the lead (25-24) after a Carlin kill. The Chants won the next two points to earn another match point, but RU got a kill from Carlin, an attack error by the hosts and a Cheyanne James kill to win the set (28-26) and extend the match.

The Highlanders jolted out to a 15-9 lead in the fourth frame. The hosts claimed the next four points to trim their deficit to two (15-13). Radford responded with an 8-2 surge to build a 23-16 advantage. Four straight points by the Chanticleers pulled the hosts to within four (23-19), but Carlin put down a kill and went to the service line and delivered an ace for the 25-19 win in set four.

After falling behind 3-0 in the decisive fifth frame, RU countered with a 5-0 spurt to take its first lead. CCU responded and went ahead 10-8, but the Highlanders rose to the challenge and regained the lead (11-10).

Radford earned the first chance to win the match after a kill by Meyer to take a 14-13 edge. The Chanticleers ended the match by claiming the next three points to win the fifth frame, 16-14.

The Highlanders end their three-match road swing at Charleston Southern, Saturday. The Big South tilt is slated for 6:00 p.m. from Buccaneer Field House.

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