YOUTH IS SERVED IN VOLLEYBALL’S 3-1 VICTORY OVER GARDNER-WEBB

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – The underclassmen played well beyond their years Friday night to lead Radford volleyball to the 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-14) victory over visiting Gardner-Webb in a pivotal Big South clash inside the Dedmon Center. Thanks to the victory and a little help from High Point knocking off Charleston Southern, the Highlanders (15-15, 5-8 Big South) earned a spot in next week's conference tournament.

Leading the attack was sophomore Rachel Wiechecki, who blasted a career-high 20 kills and added 10 digs for her team-leading 10th double-double of the season. Following her lead was freshman Savanna Burton, who smashed her previous career high with 14 kills.

Freshman Cheyanne James also crept into the double-digit kills column with 13 to go along with eight digs. Sophomore Jena Braden tossed up 46 assists, while Yacine Meyer protected RU's side of the court with a career-high 28 digs.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (9-21, 4-9 Big South) were led by Tyler Cockrell and Emily Holte, who knocked down 12 kills apiece. Amanda Murphy chipped in 10 kills, while Anna Pashkova notched a team-best 18 digs.

The visitors came out with a 6-1 lead early in the first frame. Radford was able to cut the deficit to three (13-10) after a Wiechecki kill, but GWU was able to hold the lead for the remainder of the frame to take the set, 25-20.

The Highlanders reeled off five straight points to open the second stanza, but Gardner-Webb rallied to take a 13-11. Trailing 16-14, RU embarked on a 5-0 run capped by a Wiechecki kill to reclaim the lead for good at 19-16. The Highlanders went on to win the set, 25-21. Wiechecki put down nine kills in the frame to lead all attackers, while Radford hit at a .250 clip.

Gardner-Webb was forced to call an early timeout in the third set after the visitors fell behind, 8-5. The Runnin' Bulldogs responded by tying the frame at 14 following a Holte kill. A GWU attack error and back-to-back kills from James gave the Highlanders a lead they would never relinquish, as the hosts claimed the 25-18 victory in set three. James put down six kills in the stanza, while Radford attacked at a .308 clip.

The fourth frame was all RU as the hosts jumped out to a 13-4 advantage. The Runnin' Bulldogs got to within seven (19-12) after a Cockrell kill, but blasts from Wiechecki and Burton on the next two rallies gave Radford a 21-12 lead. From there, the Highlanders cruised in for the 25-14 decision in set four to clinch the match. The hosts drilled 12 kills in the final frame for a match-high .357 attack clip.

Radford returns to the court for Senior Day tomorrow evening against UNC Asheville. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m. against the Bulldogs, which lost in straight sets to Liberty Friday night. Gardner-Webb continues its trip to the Commonwealth with its regular-season finale against the league-leading Lady Flames at noon, Saturday.

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