HIGHLANDERS’ COMEBACK STALLS IN FIFTH SET

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – After falling behind 2-0, the Radford volleyball team rallied to tie the match, but fell in the decisive fifth set to Elon on Tuesday night inside the Dedmon Center. Set scores were 23-25, 14-25, 25-23, 25-15 and 12-15.

Rachel Wiechecki once again led the Highlander attack with 14 kills and 14 digs, making her outing the sixth double-double of the season for the sophomore from Wilmington, Del. Emma Deininger chipped in 10 kills, five blocks and four digs.

Jena Braden (21) and Christine Beckham (18) combined for 39 assists on the night, while Braden also added 10 digs for her first double-double of the season. Katelyn Meeks and Emily Carlin split time as the libero, contributing 14 and 11 digs, respectively.

Elon (4-4) was paced by Megan Gravley's 24 kills and 11 digs. Maggie Reichard was credited with a match-high 23 digs, while Ana Nicksic dished out a match-high 46 helpers.

Nine of Gravley's 24 kills came in the opening set. The Phoenix and Radford (4-4) were locked in a tight battle early on with neither team creating separation. Elon finally established the largest lead for either team in the first set at 19-16. The Highlanders went on a 7-3 run, capped by a Cheyanne James kill, to give RU the 23-22 advantage.

However, the visitors grabbed the final three points of the opening frame to take the win, 25-23.

Elon hit a team-best .314 in the second set to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Racing out to a 10-4 lead, the Phoenix extended the margin to 10 at 16-6, prompting the Highlanders to burn a timeout. A kill by Wiechecki pulled Radford within seven at 19-12. After an Elon timeout, the visitors regrouped and claimed the second game, 25-14.

Thanks to a match-high hitting percentage of .375, the Highlanders kept their hopes alive in set three. Back and forth action was the theme until the Phoenix scored back-to-back points late in the game to take a 21-19 edge. Following a Radford timeout, Elon expanded its lead to 23-20.

Freshman Savanna Burton came up with an answer for the Highlanders, putting down one of her seven kills on the next rally to spark a 5-0 run to clinch the third set, 25-23, and keep RU in the match.

The fourth game was all Radford as the hosts held the Phoenix to a -.033 attack clip. On the offensive side, Wiechecki came alive in the fourth set – hitting over 40 percent. Holding on to a 13-12 advantage, a Meeks' service ace ignited a 12-3 spurt that gave Radford the fourth set, 25-15, and forced a decisive fifth game.

After winning the first three points, a Deininger kill capped a 4-0 run to give the Highlanders their only lead of the set. Elon returned the favor by claiming the next five points, to restore its lead to four. Radford trimmed its deficit to 13-12, but two attack errors ended the match and dashed the Highlanders' comeback.

RU will be back in action Friday, Sept. 7, competing in the WVU Golden Horseshoe Challenge hosted by West Virginia in Morgantown. Up first for the Highlanders is Wright State at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, Radford will battle the Mountaineers and Saint Peter's at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.

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