VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FOUR TO WEST VIRGINIA

BOX SCORE MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Senior Yacine Meyer continued her sizzling stretch of play with 10 kills and a career-high 25 digs, but the Radford volleyball team was downed in four sets (24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 22-25) by West Virginia in the first match of the afternoon session at the WVU Golden Horseshoe Challenge.

In addition to Meyer's heroics, Rachel Wiechecki charted her seventh double-double of the season (tying her mark set as a freshman) with 13 kills and 14 digs. Emma Deininger contributed nine kills and two and one-half blocks, while Katelyn Meeks chipped in 13 digs, defensively.

Rachel Fertitta also added nine kills to go along with four blocks, while Jena Braden and Christine Beckham combined for 24 and 19 assists, respectively, for the Highlanders.

West Virginia (5-5) was led by a balanced attack with four players recording double-digit kills – Caleah Wells (12), Elzbieta Klein (12), Hannah Sackett (10) and Evyn McCoy (10). Klein posted a double-double by adding 11 digs.

Anna Panagiotakopoulos registered a team-high 22 digs, while Brittany Sample dished out a match-high 45 assists.

After Radford quickly took a 4-2 lead in the first set, the Mountaineers reeled off five straight points to go ahead, 7-4. The Highlanders surged back and reclaimed the lead at 13-11. The lead was stretched to three at 19-16, but WVU won the next three points to tie the game and eventually won, 26-24.

RU (5-5) got out to a 6-3 advantage in the second stanza, but the Mountaineers battled back to tie the set at 12. On the next point, Deininger sent back a WVU attack that ignited a 6-0 spurt – giving the Highlanders an 18-12 edge. Radford cruised in from there, taking the second game, 25-18.

In the third set, West Virginia was able to create separation from the start, leading 9-3 early on. The Highlanders rallied and took a 21-20 lead following a Mountaineer attack error. Out of a West Virginia timeout, the hosts ended the frame on a 5-1 run to go ahead, 2-1, in the match.

The fourth stanza was tightly contested as both teams traded blows before Radford claimed its last lead of the match at 20-19 via a Emily Hayes kill. From there, the Mountaineers went on a 5-0 run to generate their first match point.

Back-to-back points by RU kept the comeback alive, but McCoy hammered a Sample pass for the match-clinching kill.

The Highlanders will look to bounce back at 4:00 p.m. in their final match of the tournament against Saint Peter's.

Print Friendly Version