DEININGER SETS SINGLE-SEASON BLOCKS RECORD IN 3-2 WIN OVER CAMPBELL

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RADFORD, Va. – Junior middle blocker Emma Deininger broke the single-season blocks record and the Radford volleyball team came from behind to earn a 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 24-26, 25-15, 16-14) victory over Campbell Friday night inside the Dedmon Center.

"We never quit tonight and that's what got us through a tough battle," head coach Marci Jenkins said. "Campbell played very well and they made us elevate our game in order to pull out the win. It was a collective effort from everyone on staff and in the program."

For the second straight match, the Highlanders (19-9, 8-3 Big South) had three players provide double-doubles. Rachel Wiechecki led the way by tying her career high of 22 kills. The Wilmington, Del. native also contributed 19 digs. Cheyanne James smashed 18 kills and dug the ball a career-high 24 times. Meanwhile, Jena Braden delivered a match-high 40 assists and a career-high 22 digs. Jesse Miedema cranked 11 kills to accompany her five blocks.

Deininger contributed nine kills in addition to her six blocks. The Wallingford, Pa. native entered the match only five shy of breaking the single-season mark of 117 held by Katie Sherwood. Her next mark to top is the career record, where she is second with 312 total blocks. That ledger is 66 away from Divona Cox's program record of 378.

"I am very happy for Emma breaking the blocking record," Jenkins expressed. "What she and the rest of our junior class continue to do for our program is just amazing."

Megan Short swatted a match-high seven attacks, while Kelby Jackson tallied 17 digs. In addition to Braden's numbers, Rachel Flores handed out 11 assists.

Lindsey Coats unleashed 17 kills at a .438 hitting percentage to go along with five blocks in guiding the Camels (13-15, 3-8 Big South). Jessica Groen knocked down 11 kills to provide the only other double-figure offensive performer for Campbell. Heather Wilson and Rebecca Ramirez each tossed out 21 assists, while Mary Crema anchored the backline with 24 digs. Wilson also added 16 digs to supply a double-double.

Radford lived up to its billing as the stingiest defense in the Big South as the Camels became the eighth opponent to hit less than .100 as a team against the Highlanders this season. Equally as impressive were Radford's 94 digs, which are the most since the Highlanders recorded 97 in the two squads' earlier meeting this fall. RU also made a living at the net, rejecting 16.5 attacks compared to Campbell's 10.

Tied at 5 in the first frame, the Camels reeled off eight consecutive points to establish a 13-5 advantage. The Highlanders slowly chipped away at their deficit, which dwindled to as little as four (23-19). However, Campbell responded with two of the next four points to clinch the 25-21 triumph.

Wiechecki came alive in the second stanza, ripping five kills on six attempts for an .833 attack clip. Tied at 6, Flores collected a quick pass from Savanna Burton and put it away to spark a 5-0 run. RU's lead grew to as large as 19-10, before the Camels answered with a 9-3 comeback. James, Miedema and Deininger combined for the final three points of the stanza to propel the Highlanders to the 25-20 win.

Despite James striking for six kills at a .400 rate, Campbell claimed the 26-24 victory in the third set, which featured nine ties and four lead changes. Behind superior serving from Burton, Radford quickly converted a 3-1 deficit to a 10-5 advantage. The Camels had other plans, however, as they fought back to reclaim the lead at 15-14. After Campbell extended its lead to 23-19, James uncorked a kill that ignited a 5-0 surge, which produced set point for RU at 24-23. Radford's momentum stalled though, as the Camels swiped the next three points to prevail, 26-24.

In the fourth set, the Highlanders jumped out to a 6-2 favor. Like previous sets, Campbell delivered an answer as the visitors mounted a 7-2 rally to go ahead, 9-8. Still trailing at 13-11, James catapulted a blast to initiate a 14-2 streak that lifted Radford to the 25-15 triumph.

RU, which played its 13^th five-set match tonight, fell behind early when the Camels won the first three points. Still trailing by three at 7-4, James' rocket sparked a 5-1 spurt that pushed the Highlanders ahead, 9-8. Finding itself in familiar territory, Campbell responded with a 5-2 run, which put the visitors back on top at 13-11. Although Radford won the next two points to tie the score at 13, the Camels won the ensuing rally to set up match point.

After a long rally, Wiechecki finally took control of a Braden pass and redirected it deep into the Campbell backline where no one on the visitors' side could dig it. From there, Deininger and James combined for the final two kills to seal the Highlanders' comeback.

Radford returns to the court Saturday at 2 p.m. in its final home match of the season against High Point. The Panthers (13-13, 7-4 Big South) escaped Liberty with a 3-2 decision at the Vines Center. Miedema and Carson Widener, the Highlanders' two seniors, will be honored prior to the match. With a win, RU will be tied for first place in the Big South entering the final weekend of conference play.

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