Field Hockey 12/16/2013 10:33:00 AM

FANTASTIC FALL FUELS HIGHLANDERS’ SUCCESSFUL START TO ATHLETICS YEAR

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While many families are preparing for Christmas in just over a week, Radford got a sneak peek at its presents as the Highlanders loaded down their stockings with numerous team and individual accolades during the fall season.

VOLLEYBALL
A program that once dominated the Big South, returned to the conference's pinnacle in 2013. Behind a late-season surge that included a seven-match win streak, RU won its eighth Big South regular-season championship and fifth Big South tournament title. By winning the league, the Highlanders claimed an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which marked Radford's third appearance overall and first since 2000. The selection committee shipped RU to No. 10 national seed Minnesota for its first-round match.

The road to Minneapolis was not an easy one. Finishing at 11-3 in conference action during the regular season, the Highlanders would face each of those three teams that dealt Radford a loss. After taking down Gardner-Webb in straight sets in the quarterfinals, RU had to go through two-time defending champion Liberty in the semifinals. With the match tied at 2, the Highlanders fought off five match points in the fifth set to outlast the Flames, 21-19.

One would have thought the intensity and anxiety of that match would have been hard to match, and certainly hard to top. Guess again. Facing No. 2 seed Coastal Carolina in the championship match, fans in attendance got a ticket to the longest set in Big South Championship history. Like the semifinals, Radford was battling from behind, having to fight off seven Chanticleer set points to prevail, 36-34. Momentum obtained from the opening set was enough to carry the Highlanders to the tournament title.

Individually, junior outside hitter Rachel Wiechecki was the Big South Player of the Year and the Big South Tournament MVP. She set Radford's single-season kills record (504) for the rally scoring era on her way to becoming the program's first-ever AVCA All-Region performer. Entering her senior year, Wiechecki is only 42 digs away from becoming the first Highlander in the rally scoring era with 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.

Joining Wiechecki as an All-Big South first team selection, junior middle blocker Emma Deininger set the single-season record for blocks (145). On top of her phenomenal play on the court, Deininger was equally as impressive in the classroom. The 2013 Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year became Radford's first Capital One Academic All-America® selection for volleyball with her 4.0 GPA as a double major in accounting and finance.

Cheyanne James (All-Big South second team), Kelby Jackson (Big South all-freshman team) and Jordan Watson (Big South all-freshman team) were also lauded by the conference for their superior play during the regular season. For the second time in three seasons, Marci Jenkins was named the Big South Coach of the Year.

Although Radford's tremendous run came to a halt against Minnesota, the Highlanders have a great deal to look forward to in 2014 as they welcome back 15 from their current roster next fall.

WOMEN'S SOCCER
Continuing its unprecedented success from the past two seasons, Radford added its fourth (third in four years) Big South regular-season championship to its trophy case this fall. Despite falling one game short of a third-straight Big South tournament championship, the Highlanders posted a 15-3-2 overall record. RU won a league-record 10 regular-season Big South matches, while only suffering one defeat.

Radford was rewarded for its success on the field as head coach Ben Sohrabi and senior goalkeeper Che' Brown were named Big South Coach and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. In all, eight Highlanders earned all-conference honors. Brown, along with her classmates, midfielder Julie Ruh'e and defender Sydney Golden, were named to the first team. Senior Rachel Conway garnered second-team honors, while senior forward Sahar Aflaki and junior defender Caitlin Annear earned honorable mention recognition. Rookie forwards Melanie Priestley and Britney Kendall rounded out the awards with all-freshman accolades.

Conway was also rewarded for her success off the field as the Kitchener, Ontario native was named the program's first Capital One Academic All-America® selection. Carrying a 4.0 GPA in exercise, sport and health education, Conway was named to the first team. She was one of five first-team honorees to have a perfect 4.0 GPA.

The Highlanders were a delight to watch at home as they posted their second-straight undefeated season at Cupp Stadium, going a perfect 9-0 (a new school record). They have not lost a league game at home since the 2011 season. Along with the run at home, Radford's success can be attributed to its play away from Cupp, which has seen the Highlanders post a 16-3-4 mark on the road since the start of the 2011 Big South Tournament.

One of those road triumphs had special meaning this season as Sohrabi, who finished his 18^th season at RU, won his 200^th career game when the Highlanders rallied for a 2-1 victory at Charleston Southern. He has 209 career wins, with 190 coming as the head coach for Radford.

With success comes loss, and when the final whistle blew in the 2013 Big South Championship game, the most successful senior class in program history played its final match. In all, the nine seniors finished 56-19-8 overall and 31-5-5 in the Big South, earning three regular-season titles and two tournament championships.

Radford still has a strong contingent coming back for 2014 and will be raring to go once they lace up the cleats next fall.

MEN'S SOCCER
For the second-straight season, RU advanced to the semifinals of the Big South Tournament. The Highlanders ended 2013 with a 9-7-4 ledger, marking the third year in a row where they notched at least nine wins.

Like the volleyball team, the men's soccer team made a late-season push to better its position in the conference standings. After a tight 1-0 setback at No. 8 Coastal Carolina, Radford went 5-1-1 over its next seven contests.

Following its thrilling 1-0 triumph in overtime at No. 4 seed Gardner-Webb, the Highlanders challenged top-seeded Coastal Carolina in the semifinals. The Chanticleers, ranked 22^nd in the nation at the time, took Radford's best shot as the Highlanders built a 2-0 lead with 44 minutes to go in the semifinal meeting. Unfortunately, Coastal was able to mount a comeback by tallying three goals during the final 35 minutes of the semifinal contest to derail Radford's upset bid.

Bernardo Ulmo, who charted a team-best eight goals, earned All-Big South first team honors. The senior forward ended his career with 23 goals, which are 10^th all-time in program history. He was also an all-academic recipient, carrying a 3.4 GPA as a double major in management and finance.

Anchoring the Highlanders' backline all season, Jo Vetle Rimstad was named to the Big South second team and all-freshman team, while Matt Janssen earned honorable mention. Combined, the duo led Radford's defensive unit that yielded only 1.06 goals per game and produced five shutouts.

CROSS COUNTRY
Radford's men's and women's cross country programs made great strides this fall. On the women's side, Teresa Williamson delivered one of the finest seasons in recent history for the Highlanders.

The junior became Radford's first female all-conference runner since 2009 by covering the 5K course at the Big South Championships in a personal record 18:08.90 to place fourth. Williamson was the first Highlander to finish in each of her five races she competed in, posting three top-10 showings. Radford produced four top-10 team finishes.

Ryan Farnan paced the men's pack with two top-10s, including a runner-up performance at the Asheville Cross Country Carnival. At that meet, the junior completed the 6K course in 18:58 (PR), four seconds behind the winner. The Highlanders notched three top-10 team performances.

FIELD HOCKEY
As a team, the Highlanders finished third in the NorPac East Division. Individually, senior Alayna Versage and sophomore Marianna Parker garnered all-conference honors.

Versage matched a school record with nine defensive saves, which was third in the NCAA, and finished her career as the program's all-time leader (20). Her performance led to Radford's NCAA-best 23 defensive stops, which included a single-game record eight at North Carolina.

The future looks promising for Radford with a very experienced squad returning as eight starters and a total of 13 upperclassman will put on the red and white in 2014.

OPTIMISM FOR THE WINTER
With the fall sports wrapped up, Highlander fans may want to know who will carry the banner in the winter months? Look no further than the men's basketball team. Mike Jones and his crew are off to a 6-2 start, marking the team's best opening to a season since 1993-94. The Highlanders are out west for a four-game stretch before returning to the Dedmon Center for a Dec. 30 tilt against Houghton at 5:30 p.m.

Under first-year head coach Mike McGuire, the women's basketball team is ushering in a new era. After opening at 2-0, Radford endured a grueling six-game road swing that included games at Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Wake Forest, Clemson, Campbell and Liberty. The Highlanders return home Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. against Appalachian State.

For the track and field enthusiasts, Vincent Wyatt is sure to keep things interesting when it comes to the 60-meter hurdles. An All-American in that event last season, the junior ran an 8.04 at the Liberty Kickoff over a week ago, which ranks 10^th nationally. The top-16 times at the conclusion of the indoor regular season, qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Making some noise in her Highlander debut, Tess Rogers tied the school record (10-06.00) in the pole vault at the Liberty Kickoff.

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