DEPAUL FINISHES STRONG TO FEND OFF VOLLEYBALL

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CHARLESTON, S.C. – BIG EAST Player of the Week Vesela Zapryanova collected a match-high 19 kills to go along with 12 digs in pacing DePaul to a 3-2 (25-22, 18-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-6) victory over Radford volleyball in the third match of The Citadel Invitational Friday evening inside McAlister Field House.

Not to be outdone, Rachel Wiechecki recorded her 22nd career double-double with 16 kills and a season-high 18 digs. Big South Freshman of the Week Jordan Watson drove down a season-high 18 kills, while hitting a season-best .516.

Cheyanne James charted her second double-double of the season, roping 12 kills and notching 11 digs. Big South Defensive Player of the Week Emma Deininger provided the fourth player finishing with double-figure kills for the Highlanders (6-3) with 11, to accompany her match-high seven blocks.

Kelby Jackson joined Wiechecki and James with double-digit digs, as she was credited with 16. Jena Braden totaled 41 assists, while Rachel Flores helped on 15 attacks.

Natalie Rizzo (17) and Abbie Fleener (12) joined Zapryanova in hammering double-figure kills for the Blue Demons (8-0). Colleen Smith passed out a match-high 57 assists, while Allyson Rooks finished with a match-best 21 digs.

Despite a late rally from RU, the Blue Demons held on for the 25-22 victory in the first frame. Tied at 6, DePaul embarked on a 6-0 run to double its lead. The Blue Demons extended their margin to nine (20-11) before Radford mounted its charge. A blast from Megan Short ignited a 10-3 streak that put the Highlanders within 23-21. However, DePaul scored two of the next three points to secure the set.

Radford opened a 12-9 edge in the second stanza, following a Deininger rocket, a Watson winner and a block assist by Deininger and James. Still ahead by three (18-15), the Highlanders won the next three points for a 21-15 advantage. Kills by Wiechecki, Deininger, Watson and James were enough to even the match at 1 apiece heading into break as Radford won the frame, 25-18.

Trailing 13-12 in the third set, Zapryanova ripped a kill for the Blue Demons to ignite a 4-0 spurt. This rally turned out to be enough separation for DePaul, as it prevailed (25-21) to obtain a 2-1 edge in the match.

The Blue Demons were poised to end the contest in the fourth frame as they jumped out to a 14-10 favor, which prompted a Radford timeout. After DePaul extended its lead to 16-11, the Highlanders responded with a 10-4 rally to earn their first edge of the set at 21-20. Radford rode the arm of Watson the remainder of the stanza, as the freshman carried the squad to a 25-23 triumph in the fourth set.

An early 3-0 deficit in the deciding fifth frame, forced an RU timeout. Following a kill by Deininger, the Highlanders had dwindled DePaul's advantage to 6-5. From there, the Blue Demons utilized an 8-0 streak to seal their five-set victory.

Radford returns to the court Saturday for two matches. Up first is a 10 a.m. match with South Carolina State. The Highlanders return later in the day to take on The Citadel at 6 p.m. Live stats will be available for both matches, as well as live video for the contest against The Citadel.

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