VOLLEYBALL GEARS UP FOR CHANTICLEERS IN BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINALS

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RADFORD, Va. – Coming off a 2-0 week where the squad took down Gardner-Webb (3-1) and UNC Asheville (3-0), Radford volleyball looks to continue its recent success at this week's Big South Tournament hosted by Gardner-Webb at Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, N.C.

SCOUTING THE CHANTICLEERS
♦ The 41st meeting all-time between Coastal Carolina and Radford will take place Thursday, with the Chants leading the series, 23-17.

♦ The Chanticleers are led by Gabriella Horvath with 2.94 kills per set and Meghan Laffin with 2.25 kills per set. Lauren Alejo has contributed 901 assists thus far, while Sam Skryd has racked up a team-best 269 digs. Kindra Bailey blocks nearly one attack per set.

LAST MEETING WITH COASTAL CAROLINA
♦ 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, Oct. 12, 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. Emma Deininger recorded five of RU's 13 total blocks.

ON DECK
♦ With a win Thursday against Coastal Carolina, Radford will advance to the semifinals of the Big South Volleyball Tournament where it will meet the High Point/UNC Asheville victor, Friday, at 7:00 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
♦ Behind a season-best .387 attack clip, the Radford volleyball team recorded its 11th sweep of the season with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-8, 25-12) decision over visiting UNC Asheville on Senior Day Saturday evening inside the Dedmon Center.

Rachel Wiechecki and Yacine Meyer put down nine kills apiece to lead the Highlanders' attack. In addition to Jena Braden handing out 27 assists, Katelyn Meeks and Meyer anchored the backline with 13 and 10 digs, respectively.

YA DIG?
♦ Katelyn Meeks certainly knows how to as she picked up her fourth Big South Defensive Player of the Week accolade from the league office earlier this season.

♦ In addition to her Big South honor, Meeks took over the top spot in career digs at Radford during the fourth set of the match at Coastal Carolina. The Richmond, Va. native surpassed Lauren Clary (1,378) and now has 1,490 digs in her career.

♦ Meeks has also made a name for herself behind the service line, racking up 112 aces during her career. The 112 aces rank second 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 170 block assists. Deininger ranks fifth in total blocks with 192 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
♦ Sophomore Jena Braden will no doubt leave Radford as one of the program's greatest setters as she ranks sixth in assists for a career. Braden is credited with 1,005 through her two years, including a career-high 58 against Liberty on Oct. 26.

WIE-CHECK-ME-OUT
♦ Sophomore Rachel Wiechecki was selected Choice Hotels Big South Volleyball Player of the Week after rocketing a career-high 20 kills in Radford's four-set victory over Gardner-Webb. In addition to her offensive output, she registered 10 digs to notch her 10th double-double of the season and the 17th of her career.
♦ In the Highlanders' 11th sweep of the season (3-0 over UNC Asheville), Wiechecki rocketed nine kills, while hitting a season-high 41.2 percent. On the defensive side, she contributed seven digs in the three-set match.
♦ For her career, Wiechecki averages 2.64 kills per set, which ranks sixth in Radford volleyball history (rally scoring era). The sophomore also ranks ninth in aces (60) with four of those coming against UNC Asheville.

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