VOLLEYBALL DROPS TIGHTLY CONTESTED BATTLE WITH HAMPTON, 3-1

BOX SCORE HAMPTON, Va. – Despite the 3-1 loss, the Radford volleyball team was in contention until the very end of three of those four sets, before Hampton dashed any Highlander comeback on Tuesday evening inside Holland Hall.

Freshman Cheyanne James led Radford (2-2) with nine kills, 13 digs and three aces in the non-conference tilt. Junior Emily Carlin contributed 13 digs, while Jena Braden and Christine Beckham combined for 34 helpers.

Krista Kraskura erupted for a match-high 21 kills, to go along with 17 digs, while hitting at a .370 clip for the Pirates (2-3). Sonja Maksimovic chipped in a match-high 21 digs and Biblany Fonseca dished out a match-high 30 assists.

Hampton jolted out of the gates with a 16-4 lead in the first frame. RU won three of the next four points to pull within 10, but the Pirates ended up taking the set, 25-13.

After the Highlanders won the first two points of the second stanza, the two in-state foes traded points for a while until the hosts snatched a 14-11 edge following a Kraskura kill. Radford claimed the next three points to pull all square, but Hampton won the next five points to create separation. The Highlanders rallied late in the set, trimming the deficit to 23-22, before the hosts took the final two points for a 25-22 win in the second game.

With the score tied at 3 in the third set, the Pirates reeled off four straight points to once again grab an early lead. Hampton extended the lead to 15-10, prompting a Highlander timeout. Radford responded with the next five points going their way to tie the game. The two squads battled over the next several points with neither team creating breathing room.

Tied at 22, the Highlanders set up their first set point, but Hampton answered with three straight points to snare a 25-24 edge. Radford fought off match point and earned its second chance of ending the set with a 26-25 lead, but Maksimovic knocked down a kill to tie the game once more.

Yacine Meyer found the floor for one of her seven kills on the next exchange to earn a third set point for RU. The third time proved to be the charm as a Maksimovic attack error gave the Highlanders the 28-26 victory in the third set.

A tight battle ensued to begin the fourth game, with neither team able to mount a rally. With an 11-10 advantage, the Pirates went on a 5-0 run to establish the first big lead of the set. After a Radford timeout, the squad cut its deficit to 17-15 following a Nicole Lambert kill. At 19-17, an Emma Deininger kill sparked a 4-0 spurt that allowed the Highlanders to go ahead by one.

However, Hampton had an answer as it won four of the next five points to reclaim the lead at 23-21. Deininger won the next point off a feed from Braden, but Kraskura pounded down the ensuing exchange to set up the first match point for the Pirates.

Rachel Wiechecki staved off the point, however, to keep Radford's hopes alive. Kraskura drilled her final kill on the next point to give Hampton the 25-23 win in the fourth set and the match victory.

RU will look to rebound when it returns to the Dedmon Center for the squads' home-opening tournament – the La Quinta Inn and Suites Highlander Invitational. Radford opens with St. Francis (Pa.) on Friday at 6:00 p.m.

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