FIRST-PLACE RADFORD SECURES THRILLING FIVE-SET TRIUMPH AT PC

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CLINTON, S.C. – Radford erased a 2-1 deficit behind superior blocking to earn an incredible 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 21-25, 25-23, 16-14) victory over Presbyterian College in Big South volleyball action Saturday night inside the Templeton Center.

By winning both their matches this weekend, the Highlanders improve to 18-8 overall and 7-2 in league play. RU is alone in first place, one match ahead of Coastal Carolina. The Blue Hose fall to 7-17 on the season, including a 5-4 mark in conference action.

"Wins at any level are tough to come by, but road wins are even tougher," head coach Marci Jenkins said. "Tonight was another example of our resiliency and determination to never give up. To go 2-0 this weekend is huge for us as we head into our final five matches."

Cheyanne James paced four Highlanders in double-figure kills with 17 to go along with 13 digs and a season-high six blocks en route to her eighth double-double of the season, including her fifth in the past six matches. Emma Deininger tallied 13 kills and a season-high-tying eight blocks. Rachel Wiechecki recorded 12 kills and a team-best 16 digs to post her 31^st career double-double. Jesse Miedema finished with 11 kills. Jena Braden (40) and Rachel Flores (15) combined for 55 assists.

RU was sensational at the net, recording 16 blocks, which were the most since the squad delivered 16 against CSU Bakersfield. Behind Deininger's eight and James' six, Savannah Cantrell also notched six and Wiechecki totaled five. Kelby Jackson added 13 digs and Savanna Burton chipped in a career-high 11.

Rachel Hall guided the PC attack with a match-high 18 kills. Kelly Berryman (11), Andrea Barman (10) and Halle Tripp (10) joined Hall in double-digit kills. Mary Trimpe absorbed a match-high 32 attacks, while Ashtin Frank registered a double-double of 48 assists and 13 digs. Aubrey Dooley concluded with 11 digs.

The Highlanders established an early 7-4 edge in the first frame. After a Barman kill cut the Blue Hose's deficit to 16-15, Wiechecki countered with a kill of her own to spark a 4-1 spurt that created enough separation for Radford to prevail, 25-21, in the opening set.

Braden supplied two aces that ignited a 6-1 surge to open the second stanza for the Highlanders. PC responded with a 10-1 rally that propelled the hosts on top, 11-7. Trailing 12-9, Deininger and James combined for the next four points as Radford reclaimed the lead at 13-12. The Blue Hose answered with the next four rallies and eventually extended their favor to 21-15. Miedema unleashed a kill that closed the gap to 22-21, but PC countered with the next three points for the 25-21 triumph.

Despite trailing 6-2 in the beginning stages of the third set, the Highlanders trimmed the hosts' lead to 10-9 following a Deininger swing. The Blue Hose restored their advantage to 18-13 and never looked back in taking the 25-21 decision.

After PC established an 11-6 edge in the fourth frame, Radford reeled off five in a row to knot the game at 11. With the Blue Hose ahead, 13-12, James crushed a Braden assist that engineered a 4-0 run for RU. The Highlanders remained in front the rest of the way as they earned a 25-23 win to force a fifth set.

Behind 4-3, Hall catapulted a winner that started a 3-0 rally for PC. The Blue Hose extended their lead to 9-6 before Radford mounted its charge. Two PC attack errors and a Miedema blast pulled the Highlanders within 10-9. After the Blue Hose built a 13-10 advantage, Deininger contributed two kills and a block assist to square the stanza at 13.

A Hall attack error set up match point for Radford, but she made up for her mistake with a kill on the next rally. The Highlanders secured their sixth five-set victory of the season by snatching the next two points.

Radford remains on the road for its next contest, a Nov. 1 conference clash with in-state rival Liberty. RU swept the Lady Flames (28-26, 26-24, 25-19) in the two teams' meeting earlier this season. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside the Vines Center in Lynchburg, Va.

MATCH NOTES
- Braden's two aces moves the junior into 10^th place all-time for that category with 57.
- Deininger's two solo blocks has the Wallingford, Pa. native tied with Lindsey Wheeler for fourth place all-time with 34 career solo rejections.
- Deininger's eight blocks gives her 300 for her career. She is one of two Highlanders to ever reach that milestone.

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