VOLLEYBALL HEADS TO NORTH CAROLINA ON A MISSION

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RADFORD, Va. – Tied for first place in the Big South standings, the Radford volleyball team heads to the mountains of North Carolina for its final two regular-season matches. The Highlanders will play Gardner-Webb, Friday at 7 p.m., and UNC Asheville, Saturday at 2 p.m.

GWU SERIES AT A GLANCE
Ahead 7-4 in the all-time series, Radford suffered a 3-2 setback to the Runnin' Bulldogs in the two sides' first meeting this season. The Highlanders' last win at Paul Porter Arena came in 2011 when RU won, 3-1.

SCOUTING THE RUNNIN' BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb (15-15, 6-6 Big South) has lost three straight, and four of its last five, after beginning with a 5-2 mark in league play. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs have been a tough opponent at home, going 7-2 at Paul Porter Arena.

Erin Anderson puts down 2.82 kills per set, while Heather Feldman ranks third in the Big South with 9.99 assists per set. Defensively, Anna Pashkova tallies 5.25 digs per frame (fifth in league). At the net, Tyra Montour is sixth in the conference with 1.01 blocks per set.

UNCA SERIES AT A GLANCE
Radford is one win away from evening the all-time series with the Bulldogs. UNC Asheville leads, 25-24, entering Saturday's match. The Highlanders have not lost at the Justice Center since 2010.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
UNC Asheville (17-11, 7-5 Big South) is in a three-way tie for third place entering the league's final weekend of competition. Like Gardner-Webb, the Bulldogs have an impressive home record. They are 8-0 overall and 5-0 in Big South matches at the Justice Center.

Rachel Wells paces the Big South and ranks second in the nation with her 5.95 digs per set. Anna Moore averages 2.83 kills per set, while ranking fourth in the Big South in both hitting percentage (.312) and aces per set (0.35) and seventh in blocks per set (0.99). Christine Lakatos is third in the Big South with 3.48 kills per set, while Katie Davis is second with 10.01 assists per set.

SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
Radford enters the match with a 20-9 record following its 3-0 triumph over High Point. Rachel Wiechecki (398), Cheyanne James (306) and Emma Deininger (239) pace the Highlanders offensively. Wiechecki has racked up 45 aces, in addition to ranking second in the league for kills per set (3.52) and eighth in digs per set (3.31). She also leads the league with her 16 double-doubles.

Jena Braden guides the team in assists having registered 888 so far this year. Deininger leads the team in total blocks (121), which is the highest mark in the Big South and is a program single-season record.

As a team, Radford leads the league in hitting percentage (.242), opponent's hitting percentage (.169) and blocks (272), while ranking second in assists per set (11.88), second in kills per set (12.89) and third in aces per set (1.36).

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 915 entering this weekend. She is also second in career kills per set (2.94), second in double-doubles (33), fourth in aces (107) and sixth in digs (857). Braden is fourth all-time in the assists' department with 1,927, while Rachel Flores is 10^th with 366.

Defensively, Deininger (314) and Miedema (172) are second and seventh, respectively, in total blocks. In addition, Deininger is second in block assists (280), while Miedema is sixth (161). Deininger also knows how to get it done offensively as the junior is seventh all-time in career kills with 649.

UP NEXT
Radford, along with Coastal Carolina, Liberty, UNC Asheville, High Point, Presbyterian College, Gardner-Webb and Winthrop, will vie for the Big South's automatic bid into the 2013 NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament when they battle it out next week in Clinton, S.C. Official seeding for the conference championship will be released by the conference office Saturday evening.

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