LIBERTY INVADES DEDMON ON FRIDAY FOR VOLLEYBALL CLASH

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RADFORD, Va. – The Radford volleyball team wraps up its three-match homestand Friday with a 7:00 p.m. tilt with the Lady Flames of Liberty. The Highlanders' in-state rival is a game ahead of Coastal Carolina for the top spot in the league standings. This will be the second encounter between the two squads, with Liberty winning in Lynchburg (3-0) last month.

SCOUTING THE LADY FLAMES
♦ The 66th meeting all-time between Liberty and Radford will take place Friday, with the Lady Flames leading the series, 40-25.

♦ Liberty is led by freshman Caroline Douglas' 3.52 kills per set. Ashley Gebben and preseason conference player of the year Loren Thomas put down 2.36 and 2.26 kills per set, respectively. Jade Craycraft, the reigning Big South Player of the Week, has assisted on 821 attacks through 24 matches for the Lady Flames. Becca Haraf has served up a team-best 27 aces.

♦ Anchoring the backline for Liberty is Gabrielle Shipe, who records 3.97 digs per set. Kendle Rollins and Thomas lead the blocking efforts with 1.02 and 0.95 rejections per set.

LAST MEETING
♦ Despite out-hitting its opponent in two of the three sets, the Radford volleyball team fell 3-0 (25-27, 15-25, 22-25) to Liberty in the Big South opener for both squads on Sept. 21 inside the Vines Center.

Emily Carlin put down 11 kills and added 10 digs to lead the Radford attack. Cheyanne James contributed eight kills and Katelyn Meeks chipped in 13 digs. Yacine Meyer also charted double-figure digs with 10. Christine Beckham dished out 20 assists, while Jena Braden tossed out 12.

LAST TIME OUT
♦ The Highlanders fell behind early in each set and could not recover as Presbyterian College swept a Big South tilt inside the Dedmon Center Saturday evening 25-17, 25-13 and 25-16.

Jesse Miedema and Rachel Fertitta led the Highlanders (13-13, 3-6 Big South) with eight kills each, while Christine Beckham and Jena Braden dished out 12 assists each. Katelyn Meeks anchored the backline, accounting for a match-high-tying 20 digs.

ON DECK
♦ Radford gets back on the road for a pair of league matches at Campbell (Nov. 2 - 7:00 p.m.) and at High Point (Nov. 3 - 4:00 p.m.). The Highlanders swept the Camels a day after dropping a 3-1 decision to the Panthers earlier this month.

YA DIG?
♦ Katelyn Meeks certainly knows how to as she was selected Big South Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season two weeks ago. The honor was the senior's fourth accolade from the league office in her stellar career.

♦ In addition to her Big South honor, Meeks took over the top spot in career digs at Radford during the fourth set of last week's match at Coastal Carolina. The Richmond, Va. native surpassed Lauren Clary (1,378) and now has 1,429 digs in her career.

♦ Meeks has also made a name for herself behind the service line, racking up 105 aces during her career. The 105 aces rank third in Radford volleyball history.

WELCOME TO THE BLOCK PARTY
♦ Emma Deininger has picked up right where she left off in her freshman campaign, climbing up the career record charts for blocks. The sophomore middle blocker is currently fifth in program history with 163 block assists. Deininger ranks fifth in total blocks with 184 thus far in her career.

♦ Jesse Miedema has climbed into the Top-10 for block assists and total blocks in her junior year. The Huron, Ohio native is seventh in block assists (142) and 10th in total blocks (152).

LET ME HELP YOU WITH THAT
♦ Sophomores Christine Beckham and Jena Braden will no doubt leave Radford as two of the program's greatest setters as both rank in the Top-6 in assists for a career. Beckham has accumulated 1,014 in her two years, while classmate Braden is credited with 812.

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