THREE DOUBLE-DOUBLE EFFORTS PUSH VOLLEYBALL PAST CAMPBELL IN FIVE

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BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Three double-doubles in addition to a tenacious defense that accumulated a season-best 97 digs guided Radford to the 3-2 (25-23,18-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-9) victory over Campbell in Big South volleyball action Saturday evening inside Gore Arena.

Finding itself in a five-set match for the third time in as many contests, RU found a way to prevail and improve to 15-7 overall, including 4-1 in the Big South. The Camels slip to 11-10 on the season and 2-3 in the league.

"We finally put up some defensive numbers I like to see," head coach Marci Jenkins said. "To come away with two wins on this road trip is exactly what we needed. Our girls were tested in both matches this weekend and were put in some tight situations, but found the will to win."

Rachel Wiechecki finished with a career-high 22 kills to compliment 19 digs in charting her 29^th career double-double. Coming off her career-best offensive performance, Cheyanne James ripped 12 kills in addition to a career-high 18 digs and three rejections for her fifth double-double of the season. Jena Braden provided the third double-double for the Highlanders, dishing out 49 assists and digging the ball a season-high 21 times.

Jesse Miedema contributed 10 kills, while Emma Deininger added nine blasts and three blocks. Big South Freshman of the Week Kelby Jackson was sensational on the back row, tallying a season-high 21 digs. Fellow classmate Emma Wroblicky nearly reached double figures with nine digs. RU's 97 digs were the most recorded by the squad since it tallied 103 against Penn last season.

Katelyn Layden knocked down a team-high 15 kills in addition to 16 digs for Campbell. Heather Wilson also posted a double-double with 49 assists and 14 digs, while Mary Crema anchored the defense with a career-best 40 digs, which were the second-most in program history.

Trailing 14-9 in the first set, Radford embarked on a 6-1 surge to tie the score at 15. The Highlanders seized their first lead of the frame at 20-19 following a Campbell attack error. After the Camels reclaimed a 23-22 edge, RU reeled off the final three points, capped by Carson Widener's ace, to clinch the opening set, 25-23.

Campbell, which hit .302 in the second stanza, built a 9-5 advantage in the beginning stages before the Highlanders tallied three points in a row to close the gap to one. Radford snatched its final lead of the set following a Wiechecki rocket, which made it 11-10. With the Camels already on top 19-18, a Lorin Thomas kill initiated a 6-0 streak that propelled the hosts to the 25-18 triumph.

The Highlanders found their offensive rhythm in the third set, hitting .327 en route to the 25-23 victory. Once Radford opened the third set with a 15-9 advantage, the hosts rallied to tie the score at 22. Tied again at 23, the Highlanders recaptured their magic from the first frame to win the final two points and earn a 2-1 edge in the match.

The fourth set was highlighted by rallies from both sides. After Campbell captured an 11-7 edge, RU engineered a 6-0 spurt to jump on top, 13-11. The Camels countered with an 11-1 run to reclaim the lead at 22-14. They used that momentum to carry them to the 25-18 triumph and force a fifth frame.

Radford scored five of the first seven points before Campbell rallied to tie the score at 6 in the early going. After the Highlanders restored their lead to two (10-8), Wiechecki launched a rocket that fueled the 5-1 match-clinching rally.

Following its 2-0 tour through North Carolina, RU returns to the Dedmon Center Friday, Oct. 18 to welcome Coastal Carolina for a 7 p.m. conference clash.

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