MIEDEMA’S CAREER DAY SPARKS VOLLEYBALL TO 3-1 VICTORY OVER N.C. CENTRAL

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – Junior Jesse Miedema knocked down a career-high 14 kills, while hitting over 66 percent, to lead the Radford volleyball team to a 3-1 (20-25, 25-6, 25-10, 25-20) win over N.C. Central on Tuesday night inside the Dedmon Center. The Highlanders improve to 9-8 on the season, while the Eagles fall to 2-16.

In addition to her kills mark, Miedema contributed five block assists in the outing. Cheyanne James totaled 11 kills and eight digs, while Yacine Meyer just missed a double-double with nine kills and a match-high 13 digs.

Christine Beckham dished out a match-high 27 assists and Jena Braden tossed up 12. Emma Deininger was a wall at the net, recording a season-high-tying six block assists.

Christine Anthony led N.C. Central with 12 kills, while Melissa Rabell assisted on 12 attacks. Marilyn Sherbondy was credited with a team-high eight digs.

The first set featured Radford establishing an early 13-10 advantage before NCCU went on a 4-0 run to take its first lead at 14-13. RU tied the set at 20 via a Rachel Fertitta kill, but the Eagles produced a 5-0 spurt to snatch the 1-0 lead in the match.

The Highlanders came out in the second set with a vengeance, taking a 7-2 lead early on to force a N.C. Central timeout. Out of the break, the visitors could not dig themselves out of the hole as RU cruised to the 25-6 victory in the second set. Radford hit a season-high 62.5 percent in the frame, connecting on 12-of-16 attack attempts.

Following intermission, the Highlanders once again created an early lead. Leading 9-2, Radford expanded its lead to 10 (15-5) before the Eagles called a timeout. The hosts outscored NCCU, 10-5, the rest of the stanza to take a 2-1 edge in the match.

Determined to not go down easily, the Eagles generated a 10-2 advantage to open the fourth frame. From there, RU embarked on a 15-5 run to reclaim the lead at 17-15. N.C. Central cut its deficit to two (21-19), but the Highlanders stalled the comeback thanks to a 4-1 run to end the set and capture the match.

Radford jumps back into Big South play this weekend, traveling to UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb. The matchup with the Bulldogs is set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, before squaring off against the Runnin' Bulldogs on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

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