VOLLEYBALL SEEKS REVENGE AT ELON WEDNESDAY

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Site: Elon, N.C. | Alumni Gym
Series vs. Elon: Radford leads, 14-7
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RADFORD, Va. – Looking to avenge a five-set heartbreaker against Elon last season at home, the Radford volleyball team travels to Alumni Gym Wednesday for a 6 p.m. nonconference clash in Elon, N.C.

ELON SERIES AT A GLANCE
The Highlanders lead the all-time series, 14-7, over their Southern Conference foe. This is the last meeting the Phoenix will play Radford as a SoCon member, as they will be moving to the CAA next summer. The last encounter between these two squads was an intense one as RU dropped a 23-25, 14-25, 25-23, 25-15, 12-15 decision to Elon.

SCOUTING THE PHOENIX
After going 2-1 in its home tournament over the weekend, Elon improved to 4-7 on the season. The squad has played three Big South opponents thus far, sweeping Campbell, suffering a 3-2 setback to High Point and outlasting Gardner-Webb (3-2).

Kris Harris and Chanelle Smith blast 2.45 and 2.43 kills per set, respectively, to pace the Phoenix attack. Ana Nicksic has assisted on 264 attacks for Elon, while Maggie Reichard averages a team-high 2.67 digs per set. Harris holds down the blocking duties with 36 blocks to her credit in 2013.

SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
Jordan Watson is the top offensive weapon for Radford, averaging 3.33 kills per set, which rank third in the Big South. Rachel Wiechecki and Cheyanne James are right behind at 3.14 and 2.59, respectively. Jena Braden leads the Highlanders in assists with 350. Emma Deininger has a team-high 54 blocks, which tops the league.

Radford holds the top spot in the Big South in hitting percentage (.252). In addition, the Highlanders rank second in assists per set (11.84), second in kills per set (12.84), and fifth in aces per set (1.52). On the defensive side, RU stifles its opposition to a conference-best .166 hitting percentage, while recording 2.43 blocks per set (rank second in Big South).

TREMENDOUS TRIFECTA
For the third week in a row, Watson was named The Crons Brand Big South Freshman of the Week, as announced by league officials Monday afternoon.

Watson becomes the first Big South volleyball student-athlete to be recognized as the freshman of the week three consecutive times since Laura Wilcox of Gardner-Webb, who was honored for four consecutive weeks in 2008.

In her 15 sets played last week, Watson registered 54 kills for an impressive 3.6 kills per set, while hitting .400, collecting 13 digs and recording three blocks. Entering week four of volleyball action, Watson ranks third in the Big South in kills per set (3.33) and fourth in hitting percentage (.315).

Following a 14-kill, four-dig effort against JMU, Watson smashed a season-high 18 kills while hitting an eye-popping .516 in a 3-2 loss to unbeaten DePaul of the BIG EAST. She also contributed four digs in the losing effort.

After a seven-kill performance in limited action against S.C. State, Watson capped the weekend with 15 kills, four digs and two blocks in a sweep of The Citadel.

RECORD WATCH
A number of current Highlanders are making their marks on the program's record books. Wiechecki is sixth all-time in career kills at 655, 53 shy of fifth place currently held by Elizabeth Aldredge. The junior is tied for fourth in kills per set (2.71) and is fifth in aces (88). Braden surpassed Kiley Kent for fourth place on the all-time assists list with 1,389 during The Citadel match.

Defensively, Deininger (247) and senior Jesse Miedema (153) are fourth and 10th, respectively, in total blocks. In addition, Deininger is fourth in block assists (219), while Miedema is seventh (143).

UP NEXT
Radford plays three of its next six matches inside the Dedmon Center, beginning with Friday's opening match of the Highlander Classic versus Savannah State. First serve with the Tigers is set for 3 p.m.

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