WIECHECKI, BRADEN LIFT VOLLEYBALL TO 3-0 VICTORY OVER UNC ASHEVILLE

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RADFORD, Va. – Behind double-doubles from juniors Rachel Wiechecki and Jena Braden, the Radford volleyball team earned its eighth sweep of the season (25-20, 25-21, 25-23) Friday night over UNC Asheville in front of an electric crowd at the Dedmon Center.

"UNC Asheville is a well-coached team that is very similar to us, so we knew coming in it would be a battle," head coach Marci Jenkins said. "I thought our players competed hard, especially defensively. Also, our serve and pass game was solid."

Wiechecki, who notched her 27^th career double-double and fourth in the previous five outings, finished with a season-high-tying 19 kills in addition to 14 digs. Right behind was Braden, who charted her fifth double-double of the season with a match-high 27 assists and 10 digs.

Cheyanne James and Megan Short unleashed eight kills apiece, while James added 11 digs. Kelby Jackson provided a fourth double-digit digger, accumulating 14 in the contest. Rachel Flores assisted on 13 attacks.

The Highlanders (13-6, 2-0 Big South) hit .207 for the match in registering 50 kills to go along with 62 digs and five blocks.

Anna Moore was the lone player to reach double-figure kills for the Bulldogs (10-7, 1-1 Big South) with 11. Christine Lakatos tallied eight kills, while Katie Davis tossed out 24 assists in addition to stuffing four attacks. Rachel Wells took match-high honors in digs with 22.

UNCA hit .107 in the outing, knocking down 33 kills. Like RU, the visitors finished with 62 digs while charting six blocks.

James and Wiechecki combined for 11 kills in the opening frame to propel Radford to the 25-20 victory. Despite Asheville building a 10-6 advantage, the Highlanders eventually fought back to tie the set at 18 off a Wiechecki blast. Still tied at 19, Braden went back to serve for four consecutive rallies in igniting a 6-1 surge to lift RU to the 1-0 edge in the match.

In the second stanza, Radford raced out to an 11-5 edge, which prompted a timeout from the visitors. After the Bulldogs closed the gap to 20-18, a Short missile sparked a 4-0 spurt that earned the Highlanders set point at 24-18. Following three straight points by Asheville, Short once again answered the bell as she rang a Braden assist for the set-clinching kill.

The Bulldogs regrouped at intermission as they jetted out to a 6-3 lead in the third frame. They would hold on to their advantage until James hammered a kill to furnish Radford with a 10-9 edge. The two sides were locked in a close battle for the next several rallies as neither team led by more than three points.

Trailing 21-18, Wiechecki uncorked a Braden offering to engineer a 3-0 surge to tie the stanza at 21. Still tied at 22, the Wilmington, Del. native recorded two of the Highlanders' final three points in lifting RU to the sweep.

Radford returns to the court Saturday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. for a Big South clash with Gardner-Webb inside the Dedmon Center. The Runnin' Bulldogs (8-10, 1-1 Big South) are coming a thrilling five-set triumph over Liberty at the Vines Center tonight. Live stats and live video will be available.

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