Volleyball 11/13/2014 10:00:00 AM

RADFORD TAKES HOME STAGE LOOKING TO REPEAT AS REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPS

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RADFORD, Va. – Heading into the weekend atop the Big South standings, the Radford volleyball team will finish out the regular season with a pair of conference clashes inside the Dedmon Center.

The Highlanders will play Gardner-Webb (Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.) and UNC Asheville (Saturday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m.). Saturday's match is also Senior Day, as RU will honor Jena Braden, Savannah Cantrell, Kristina Cascio, Emma Deininger and Rachel Wiechecki prior to first serve.

WHAT'S AT STAKE
Quite simply, a regular-season championship is on the line. With two wins this weekend, the Highlanders (20-7, 10-2 Big South) would repeat as the Big South's regular-season champion for the first time since the 2000-01 seasons. In addition, Radford would finish with a 9-0 home record this season and stretch its home-winning streak to 11-straight matches.

SCOUTING THE RUNNIN' BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb has lost seven of its last 11 matches, running its record to 12-18 overall and 5-7 against conference competition. Heather Feldman, who was named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District III Volleyball Team last week, has started each match this season and manages the offense with her 9.3 assists per set.

Middle blocker Tyler Cockrell ranks 10^th in the conference in kills per set (2.79) and eighth in hitting percentage (.278). On the defensive side, Anna Pashkova is fourth in the league in digs per set (4.83).

Radford cruised past the Runnin' Bulldogs in straight sets (25-6, 25-19, 25-16) on Oct. 4 in Boiling Springs, N.C. However, RU will not be taking Gardner-Webb lightly. GWU came into the Dedmon Center last season and shocked Radford in five sets, handing the Highlanders one of their three Big South losses in 2013. RU leads the all-time series, 10-4.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
UNC Asheville is coming off a thrilling 3-2 upset of Winthrop. The Bulldogs improved their record to 7-21 overall and 3-9 in league action.

Setter Katie Davis engineers UNC Asheville's offense with an average of 6.56 assists per set, while outside hitters Shelby Erickson (2.51) and Christine Lakatos (2.41) guide the team in kills per set. Bryn Pfeiffer averages 3.41 digs per set, while Madison Vaughn has a team-best 91 blocks for the Bulldogs this season.

Radford beat UNCA in four sets on Oct. 3 in Asheville, N.C. In the 51 times the two teams have played, the Highlanders hold a slight 26-25 edge.

RADFORD ROUNDUP
The Highlanders have won six in a row entering this weekend. On the strength of their winning streak, they have climbed into the top spot in the conference rankings, one match ahead of Liberty and Coastal Carolina. Radford has reached 20 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2000-01.

RU continues to rank third in hitting percentage (.213) and opponent hitting percentage (.168) among Big South teams. The Highlanders rank second in aces per set, dialing up 1.29 each game.

Rachel Wiechecki paces the offense with her 3.57 kills per set, which rank third in the Big South. Megan Short ranks third in hitting accuracy (.317). In addition to her offense, Wiechecki anchors the backline with her 3.89 digs per set.

SENIOR SALUTE
Radford is set to honor its five seniors Saturday. The quintet has combined for a 78-48 overall record and a 36-18 Big South record since 2011. Led by this group, the Highlanders captured the Big South regular-season and tournament championships and earned a bid into the NCAA tournament. It was the program's first conference tournament title since 2000 and fifth overall.

ON DECK
With two wins this weekend, Radford will lock up the No. 1 seed for next week's Big South tournament, which will be hosted by Coastal Carolina (Nov. 20-21, 23) inside The HTC Center. The tournament bracket will be released Saturday night.

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Players Mentioned

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

#4 Savannah Cantrell: MB; 5' 10"; Senior

#10 Kristina Cascio: DS; 5' 5"; 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

#4 Savannah Cantrell
: 5' 10"; Senior
: MB

#10 Kristina Cascio
: 5' 5"; Senior
: DS

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

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

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