RADFORD FALTERS IN STRAIGHT SETS TO RACERS

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – The Radford volleyball team found it tough to score on defensive-minded Murray State on Saturday night as the Highlanders fell in straight sets (21-25, 23-25, 16-25) to the Racers in the Highlander Invitational held inside the Dedmon Center.

Murray State (2-4) was led by tournament MVP Lia Havili – 33 assists and nine digs. Joining her on the all-tournament team was Taylor Olden, who finished with 10 kills on 20 attempts for a .400 attack percentage.

Emily Schmahl chipped in 10 kills, while Kristen Besselsen, Lydia Orf and Katlyn Hudson contributed double-figure digs. Alyssa Lelm led the Racers at the net with a match-high eight blocks, defensively.

RU (4-3) got another double-double from Rachel Wiechecki with 13 kills and 10 digs. The stellar sophomore from Wilmington, Del. now has 12 career double-doubles and five on the season. Yacine Meyer was one kill shy of a double-double, following her 9-kill, 12-dig performance.

Jena Braden (17) and Christine Beckham (15) combined for 32 assists in the contest. Emma Deininger represented the Highlanders on the all-tournament team.

After Radford won the first point of the match, the Racers strung together six straight points to establish an early 6-1 lead. With the score 9-4, an attack error by Michelle Lazorchak ignited a 10-3 run giving the Highlanders a 14-12 advantage. Radford would take its last lead, 21-20, following a Jesse Miedema kill, before MSU ended the set on a 5-0 run.

Radford built a 5-3 lead early on in the second set, but the Racers mounted a 6-0 spurt to give the visitors the advantage. Following a kill by Olden to make the score 15-8, Miedema put down another kill to spark an 11-3 surge to give the Highlanders the 19-18 edge.

Murray State won seven of the final 11 points of the frame, however, to make the match score 2-0 in favor of the Ohio Valley Conference member.

The third game was all Racers as the visitors opened with a 6-0 lead before Radford got on the board. Keeping the 6-point lead at 12-6, Murray State withstood three straight Highlander points by countering with three of their own to make the score 15-9. Radford got as close as two, 16-14, but the early deficit was too large to overcome as the Racers took set three, 25-16.

The Highlanders will conclude their four-match homestand with a non-conference tilt against Elon on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.

La Quinta Inn and Suites Highlander Invitational All-Tournament Team
Lia Havili, Murray State, MVP
Taylor Olden, Murray State
Emma Deininger, Radford
Elizabeth Williams, SFU
Jessica Maxwell, The Citadel

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