JAMES SETS NEW CAREER-HIGH, VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FIVE TO WINTHROP

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – The Radford volleyball team jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the match, but Winthrop rallied by taking the final three frames to claim the five-set Big South victory inside the Dedmon Center Friday night. Set scores were 33-31, 25-18, 20-25, 20-25 and 13-15.

Freshman Cheyanne James erupted for a career-high 16 kills on 33 attempts for a .393 attack clip to pace the Highlanders (13-12, 3-5 BSC). Jesse Miedema and Rachel Wiechecki tallied 12 kills each, while Rachel Fertitta put down 10 to account for the season-high fourth double-digit kill performer.

Wiechecki contributed a season-high 17 digs to chart her eighth double-double of the season and 15th of her career to lead the defensive efforts. Emily Carlin finished one kill shy of a double-double with nine kills and 16 digs. Katelyn Meeks and Jena Braden contributed 15 and 12 digs, respectively. Wiechecki and Meeks served up three aces apiece.

Braden added 27 assists for her fifth double-double of the season, while Christine Beckham handed out a team-high 30 assists for Radford. Beckham broke the 1,000-assist plateau tonight and has 1,002 for her career.

The Eagles (11-11, 5-3 BSC) were led by Jennica Mullins' match-high 18 kills and 7.5 blocks. Rachel Lenz and Carolyn Weed knocked down 17 and 13 kills, respectively. Stephanie Palmer notched a double-double with a match-high 37 assists and 11 digs. Catherine Brusie finished with a match-high 18 digs, while Kristin Cruse was credited with 17.

The first set was the longest game for Radford all season as both squads battled until the Highlanders outlasted their opponent, 33-31. Winthrop staked an 8-4 advantage early on and extended it to 18-13 later on. With the score 23-18, RU went on a 5-0 run to tie the frame at 23. An Amy Zimmer kill set up the Eagles' first set point, but the hosts answered with a Fertitta kill.

James put down a kill on the next exchange to earn Radford its first set point, but Winthrop stood its ground and tied it with another Zimmer kill. The two squads battled back and forth until the score was tied at 31. On the ensuing rally, Weed had an attack error and James sent down a rocket to deliver the Highlanders a 33-31 marathon win in set one.

Radford carried its momentum from the first frame into the second, rolling out to a 7-4 lead. A 12-6 Highlander run put the hosts ahead, 19-10, prompting a Winthrop timeout. The visitors closed to within 23-17, but Radford won two of the final three points to swipe the 25-18 win and the 2-0 edge in the match going into intermission.

After the Highlanders established a 4-2 advantage in the third set, the visitors mounted a 10-3 surge to jump ahead, 12-7. Radford got to within 21-18, but the Eagles held on for the 25-20 victory in set three to avoid the sweep.

The Highlanders raced out to an 8-4 advantage in the fourth frame, forcing a Winthrop timeout. RU was able to keep separation and took a 19-17 lead late in the stanza. On the next rally, Mullins put down a kill to spark a 5-0 charge that pushed the Eagles in front, 22-19. Winthrop snatched three of the final four points of the frame to force a decisive fifth set.

In the final set, Radford built an 8-5 lead to prompt an Eagle timeout. Out of the break, Winthrop embarked on a 7-3 run to take the lead at 12-11. An Emma Deininger kill on the next exchange tied the set, but the Eagles ended the fifth frame like the previous set by taking three of the final four points to win the five-set thriller.

The Highlanders continue their three-match homestand against Presbyterian College tomorrow (Oct. 20). The Big South clash is set for 4:00 p.m. inside the Dedmon Center and is designated as the Dig Pink match in support of breast cancer awareness. The Eagles continue their Commonwealth swing with a trip to Lynchburg tomorrow for a league tilt with Liberty at 1:30 p.m. from the Vines Center.

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