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Volleyball

REGULAR-SEASON TITLE HOPES ON THE LINE FRIDAY NIGHT FOR VOLLEYBALL



LIVE STATS  |  LIVE VIDEO

RADFORD, Va. – If Radford is going to repeat as the Big South volleyball regular-season champion, the Highlanders will in all likelihood need a win Friday night when league-leading Liberty visits the Dedmon Center for a 7 p.m. clash.

The Lady Flames, who are 9-0 in Big South play, currently have a two-match advantage on RU in the conference standings. Liberty is in the midst of a 13-match winning streak. Its last loss came on Sept. 19 against Northern Kentucky in Nashville, Tenn.

The 71st meeting between the two Commonwealth foes will be their second meeting of the season. Liberty claimed a 3-1 victory over the Highlanders inside the Vines Center on Sept. 26.
 
LU has been impressive as the road team this season, winning all nine of its matches. However, Radford has been equally as good at home. The Highlanders carry a nine-match home winning streak into Friday night's tilt.
   
The match also features two of the Big South's top volleyball players in the Lady Flames' Caroline Douglas and Radford's Rachel Wiechecki. Douglas was the 2012 Big South player and freshman of the year, but an injury in 2013 hindered the Greenville, N.C., native from reaching her full potential. It seems the redshirt junior is well on her way back to her 2012 form as she leads the Liberty attack with 4.25 kills per set.
 
Hannah Weidner, a three-time Big South freshman of the week in 2014, is right behind Douglas at 3.35 kills per set. Caila Stapleton is in her first year managing the offense with the graduation of former Liberty standout Jade Craycraft. The 6-foot setter has 1,023 assists for the season. In addition, she has used her height as a dual-threat option, dumping over 70 kills.
 
Anchoring the backline is Gabrielle Shipe, who digs 4.44 attacks per set. Shipe has garnered the Big South defensive player of the week twice this year. At the net, Jade Vorster delivers 1.22 blocks per set. Vorster is in her first season with Liberty, having transferred from Hawaii where she was an all-conference performer.

Radford travels to Campbell (Nov. 7) and High Point (Nov. 8) as Big South action continues next week.
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Players Mentioned

Rachel Wiechecki

#8 Rachel Wiechecki

OH
5' 10"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Rachel Wiechecki

#8 Rachel Wiechecki

5' 10"
Senior
OH