COASTAL CAROLINA AND CHARLESTON SOUTHERN VISIT VOLLEYBALL FOR HOMECOMING

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RADFORD, Va. – After a successful 2-0 trip through North Carolina, the Radford volleyball team returns to the Dedmon Center for Homecoming Weekend as the Highlanders host Coastal Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m. and Charleston Southern on Saturday at 2 p.m.

CCU SERIES AT A GLANCE
The Chanticleers are ahead, 24-17, in the all-time series, which includes two wins last season. RU dropped a 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 26-28, 19-25, 16-14) heartbreaker at The HTC Center before being ousted by Coastal in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Big South Tournament, 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 25-18, 25-17).

SCOUTING THE CHANTICLEERS
Kindra Bailey tops the Big South in hitting percentage (.356), while ripping 2.38 kills per set for the Chants. Bailey is joined by Gabriella Horvath (2.66 kps) and Lian Bernett (2.51 kps) on the attack.

Lauren Alejo, who was named the Choice Hotels Big South Player of the Week in week four, has racked up 642 assists on the season. Her 8.79 assists per set rank seventh in the league. Defensively, Lindsay Gill averages 4.25 digs per set, which rank sixth in the conference.

CSU SERIES AT A GLANCE
The Highlanders have a commanding 32-12 favor in the all-time series with Charleston Southern. RU has won two straight against the Bucs, including a sweep of CSU in 2012.

SCOUTING THE BUCCANEERS
Charleston Southern is in search of its first victory in conference play when the squad visits the Commonwealth. The Bucs take on Liberty Friday before heading to the New River Valley. Katrina Houston nails 2.88 kills per set for CSU, which is the 10^th-best mark in the league. Additionally, Siraya Windsor, Meredith Parrott, Erin Lavenice and Kayla Klinger all tally two or more kills per set.

Cassidy Greer has dished out 505 assists for the year, while Houston has served up a team-best 18 aces. Maggie Murphy anchors the defense with 3.24 digs per set. Lavenice is the lead blocker at 1.06 rejections per set.

SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
Radford enters the match with a 15-7 record and in first place in the Big South. Rachel Wiechecki (280), Cheyanne James (220) and Jordan Watson (218) pace the Highlanders offensively. Wiechecki has racked up a conference-best 35 aces, in addition to ranking third in kills per set (3.33) and seventh in digs per set (3.42). She also leads the league with her 12 double-doubles.

Jena Braden guides the team in assists having registered 655 so far this year. Emma Deininger leads the team in total blocks (89), which is the highest mark in the Big South.

As a team, Radford leads the league in hitting percentage (.242), opponent's hitting percentage (.168) and blocks (203), while ranking second in assists per set (11.73), second in kills per set (12.84) and fourth in aces per set (1.35).

RECORD WATCH
A number of current Highlanders are making their marks on the program's record books. Wiechecki continues to chase the top mark for career kills, which is currently held by Divona Cox who cranked 1,066 kills from 2002-05. The junior's tally sits at 797 entering this weekend. She is also second in career kills per set (2.83), second in double-doubles (29), fourth in aces (101) and seventh in digs (770). Braden is fourth all-time in the assists' department with 1,694, while Rachel Flores is 10^th with 286.

Defensively, Deininger (282) and Miedema (162) are third and tied for seventh, respectively, in total blocks. In addition, Deininger is second in block assists (251), while Miedema is sixth (151).

UP NEXT
RU travels to South Carolina to battle Winthrop (Oct. 25) and Presbyterian College (Oct. 26) as Big South play continues next week.

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