WIECHECKI’S CAREER DAY NOT ENOUGH IN FIVE-SET DEFEAT

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RADFORD, Va. – Rachel Wiechecki hammered a career-high 21 kills in addition to 20 digs, but Gardner-Webb erased a 2-1 deficit to claim a 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 12-25, 25-20, 15-7) victory over Radford in Big South volleyball action from the Dedmon Center Saturday evening.

For her efforts, the Wilmington, Del. native notched her 28^th career double-double in leading the Highlanders (13-7, 2-1 Big South). Furthermore, the junior moved into seventh all-time in career digs, passing Kate McHugh with 731, and second place on the career kills chart with 767, passing Lindsey Poole.

Jena Braden tallied her sixth double-double of the season by dishing out a match-high 45 assists and accumulating 13 digs. Emma Deininger matched her career high of 14 kills to go along with three blocks. Jordan Watson struck 11 kills to round out three players with double-digit winners for RU.

In addition to Wiechecki's 20 and Braden's 13, Cheyanne James (17), Kelby Jackson (14) and Emma Wroblicky (11) also reached double figures in digs. Savannah Cantrell contributed a team-best four blocks, while Carson Widener chipped in a match-high three aces.

Emily Holte (16) paced four Runnin' Bulldogs (9-10, 2-1 Big South) with double-digit kills. Taylor Lillard and Tyra Montour both knocked down 12 kills, while Brianna Starr battered 10 kills in addition to 12 digs. Heather Feldman also registered a double-double with 43 assists and 13 digs.

Anna Pashkova anchored the backline with a match-best 27 digs, while Erin Anderson (14) and Katie Loftin (10) also reached double figures in digs. Montour manufactured a match-high five blocks.

The Highlanders hit .232 for the contest, totaling 60 kills in addition to 81 digs, seven aces and nine blocks. On the other side, Gardner-Webb attacked at a .227 clip, managing 61 kills to accompany 87 digs, nine aces and six blocks.

Radford wasted little time getting an early lead as a Deininger block established an 8-3 advantage for the hosts. Gardner-Webb responded to tie the set at 13, and eventually took its first lead at 19-18. Still trailing at 22-21, Wiechecki roped a kill to ignite a 4-1 run that gave RU the 25-23 win.

Despite falling behind 3-0 in the beginning stages of set two, the Highlanders countered with a 6-3 surge capped by a Watson rocket to knot the score at 6. Trailing 11-9, an attack error by Starr sparked a 6-1 rally to prompt a Runnin' Bulldogs timeout at 15-12 in favor of Radford. After the Highlanders extended their lead to 19-15, Gardner-Webb settled down as Lillard drove down an attack to engineer a 6-0 run that gave the visitors a 21-19 edge. The two-point margin was enough to even the match at intermission following a 25-22 triumph for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the second stanza.

Behind 6-5 in the third frame, Wiechecki catapulted a Braden offering to launch a 7-0 streak that pushed Radford ahead, 12-6. Gardner-Webb could not get any closer than five the remainder of the set as the Highlanders snatched a 2-1 edge in the match following the 25-12 victory.

The Runnin' Bulldogs utilized an 8-1 run to open the fourth frame and withstood a furious comeback by RU to earn a 25-20 decision. After following behind by seven, the Highlanders methodically chopped into their deficit. A Watson kill finally pulled the hosts back to all-square at 16. Radford tied it once more at 18, but Gardner-Webb answered with a 7-2 charge to force a fifth set.

Already on top 6-4 in the match-deciding frame, the Runnin' Bulldogs scored the next four points to increase their advantage to 10-4. The margin was too large for the Highlanders to overcome as they dropped their first league match of the season.

Radford will aim to return to the win column when it hits the road for the first time in conference play. Up first is an Oct. 11 date with High Point at 7 p.m. inside the Millis Center.

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