FERTITTA’S CAREER DAY PROPELS RADFORD TO 3-1 VICTORY OVER PENN

BOX SCORE PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Playing in its last regular season tournament match, Radford volleyball romped to the 3-1 (26-24, 9-25, 25-22, 25-17) victory over Pennsylvania in the Highlanders' finale of the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West Penn Invitational on Saturday morning.

Rachel Fertitta tallied a career-high 12 kills, while nearly hitting 40 percent from the floor for RU. Emily Carlin also contributed double-digit kills with 11, in addition to 11 digs.

Christine Beckham and Jena Braden were invited to the double-double party as well. Beckham dished out a team-high 20 assists and 13 digs, while Braden was credited with 14 assists and 19 digs.

Katelyn Meeks charted a season-best effort in the digs column with 27, to go along with one ace. Meeks and Fertitta earned spots on the all-tournament team for their part in the Highlanders' 2-1 weekend.

Kristen Etterbeek put down 12 kills and added nine digs to pace Penn. Ronnie Bither finished with a match-high 36 helpers, while Dani Shepherd registered a match-high 35 digs.

Radford (8-7) raced out to a 12-9 lead in the first set, but the Quakers came back to knot the frame at 16. The Highlanders restored the advantage to three once more at 20-17. Penn rallied to tie the score at 22 and had the first crack at set point after an attack error by RU.

The Highlanders had other plans, however, as Jesse Miedema, Cheyanne James and Fertitta put down three straight winners to give Radford the 26-24 win.

After RU took a 3-1 edge in the second stanza, the Quakers (4-4) generated a 14-0 run to put the hosts in the driver's seat. Penn went on to claim the set, 25-9.

With the Highlanders ahead 13-9, the hosts reeled off four straight points to tie the set. Radford would answer as it went on to take a 2-1 lead in the match after the 25-22 set three victory.

A Carlin kill ignited a 5-1 start for the Highlanders to open the fourth frame. After its lead was trimmed to 14-13, Radford responded with a 4-0 spurt to establish enough momentum to carry the squad to the 25-17 decision in the match-clinching set.

The Highlanders will be back in action next Friday when the squad opens Big South play against Liberty. The matchup featuring the top two teams in the preseason coaches' poll is slated for 7:00 p.m. inside the Vines Center.

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