RADFORD READIES FOR WINTHROP, PRESBYTERIAN THIS WEEKEND

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RADFORD, Va. – The Radford volleyball team has a busy weekend ahead as it prepares to square off against two Big South foes inside the Dedmon Center. On Friday, Oct. 24, the Highlanders will take on Winthrop for Dig Pink Night at 7 p.m. RU closes out the weekend with a 4 p.m. match against Presbyterian on Saturday.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Coming into Friday's match, the Eagles sit at 15-8 on the year and 5-2 in conference play. Winthrop is currently tied for second with Radford and Coastal Carolina after beating Campbell on Oct. 18. The Eagles have faired pretty well away from Winthrop Coliseum this season as they hold a 4-2 record while playing on the road.

Winthrop ranks prominently in the league for hitting percentage (fifth / .197), opponent hitting percentage (second / .163), assists per set (third / 11.89), kills per set (third / 13.10) and aces per set (fifth / 1.19). The Eagles currently lead the league in blocks with 2.43 per set.

Rachel Lenz tops the league in blocks, averaging 1.35 per game. The junior also ranks fourth in hitting percentage at .304. Sophomore Maria Volstad ranks eighth overall in the league with 4.26 digs per set while senior Alina Sopizhuk ranks eighth in kills per set (3.18).

Radford leads the all-time series, 26-19.

SCOUTING THE BLUE HOSE
Presbyterian enters the weekend with a 9-10 overall record and a 4-3 mark in Big South play. The Blue Hose, who battle league-leading Liberty on Friday before heading to Radford, are currently riding a two-match winning streak. However, both of those wins were notched in front of a home crowd inside the Templeton Center.

Presbyterian ranks near the bottom of the conference in most statistical categories including hitting percentage (10^th/ .140), assists per set (eighth / 10.94), kills per set (eighth / 11.77), blocks per set (seventh / 1.92) and aces per set (seventh / 1.15). However, the Blue Hose are stingy on defense, holding opponents to .184 on the attack, which ranks fifth in the Big South.

Senior Rachel Hall leads the attack for PC as she currently resides in third place in the league in kills per set (3.60). Classmate Mary Trimpe heads the league in digs per set (4.92) while senior Kelly Berryman has the fourth-most blocks per set in the league (1.10).

Presbyterian leads the all-time series with the Highlanders, 7-4.

RADFORD ROUNDUP
Radford heads into the weekend with a 15-7 overall record, but a 5-2 ledger in conference competition. The Highlanders return home for a three-match homestand after traveling south to take on Coastal Carolina and Charleston Southern last week.

RU currently leads the league in aces per set (1.33) and is third in opponent hitting percentage (.164). Megan Short (.328) and Emma Deininger (.307) are second and third, respectively, in hitting percentage among Big South players. Jena Braden is third in the conference in assists with 843 on the year. Rachel Wiechecki has the most aces in the Big South with 32. She ranks sixth in kills per set (3.44).

CLIMB TO 100
Marci Jenkins, a two-time Big South coach of the year, earned her 100^th victory at Radford in the Highlanders' 3-0 sweep of UNC Wilmington. Since her arrival in 2008, RU has won a Big South regular-season and tournament title, qualified for the NCAA tournament, and had a Big South player of the year, freshman of the year, tournament MVP and scholar-athlete of the year.

ON DECK
The Highlanders will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 31 when they host Liberty for a 7 p.m. tilt inside the Dedmon Center.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Jena Braden: S; 5' 8"; Senior

#3 Emma Deininger: MB; 6' 1"; Senior

#12 Megan Short: RS; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

#8 Rachel Wiechecki: OH; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#7 Jena Braden
: 5' 8"; Senior
: S

#3 Emma Deininger
: 6' 1"; Senior
: MB

#12 Megan Short
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: RS

#8 Rachel Wiechecki
: 5' 10"; Senior
: OH