VOLLEYBALL GETS BACK ON “WRIGHT” TRACK WITH SWEEP OF RAIDERS

BOX SCORE MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Fueled by career-high performances from Yacine Meyer and Rachel Fertitta, the Radford volleyball team cruised by Wright State, 3-0, on Friday evening in the WVU Golden Horseshoe Challenge. Set scores were 26-24, 31-29, and 25-13.

Meyer and Fertitta led the Highlanders' charge inside the WVU Coliseum as both set new career highs in kills. Meyer posted her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and a match-high 18 digs, while Fertitta put down eight kills on 13 attempts for a career-high .615 attack percentage.

Rachel Wiechecki finished one kill shy of a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs, while Katelyn Meeks contributed 13 digs, defensively. Jena Braden (25) and Christine Beckham (13) combined for 38 assists in the contest.

Marissa Aiello hit at a .355 attack clip with 13 kills on 31 attempts to lead the Raiders (1-9). Ashleigh Lucco dished out a match-high 34 helpers, while Katie Glassmeyer chipped in a team-high 14 digs on the defensive end.

Wright State established an early 13-6 lead in set one, forcing the Highlanders to call a timeout. From that point, RU went on a 15-7 run to grab its first advantage of the frame at 21-20. A kill from Jesse Miedema gave the Highlanders their first set point, but an Aiello kill extended the game.

Radford finished the deal on the next two points when Emma Deininger put down one of her nine kills, followed by a kill from Wiechecki put the Highlanders (5-4) ahead in the match, 1-0.

The second set would turn out to be the longest game of the season for Radford. Once again the Raiders snatched an early lead at 13-7, prompting another timeout by the Highlanders. On the next point, Savanna Burton hammered down a set from Beckham, sparking a 10-1 rally that put RU ahead, 17-14.

Wright State fought back to reclaim the lead at 22-20 and eventually earned its first set point of the match at 24-23. The Highlanders were able to win three of the next four points to set up their first crack at a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Raiders were up to the challenge, however, as they fought off three match points before Fertitta and Meyer put down back-to-back kills to give Radford a 31-29 set two victory.

Looking to complete its third sweep of the season, the Highlanders raced out to a 10-4 lead before Wright State called a timeout. Radford expanded its lead to 14, before Meyer sent down a Braden pass to end the match.

The Highlander defense was stifling, holding the Raiders to a .094 hitting percentage, while accumulating 61 digs and 19 blocks.

RU wraps up the tournament tomorrow with two matches. First up is the host Mountaineers at 12:00 p.m., before battling Saint Peter's at 4:00 p.m.

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