TOURNAMENT TITLE DEFENSE BEGINS THURSDAY AGAINST CAMPBELL

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RADFORD, Va. – After securing its ninth Big South regular-season championship last weekend, No. 1 seed Radford travels to Conway, S.C., for the 2014 Big South Volleyball Tournament looking to advance to the "Big Dance" for the second-straight year. First up for the Highlanders will be a Thursday quarterfinal tilt with Campbell at noon inside The HTC Center.

WHAT'S AT STAKE
With three wins, Radford would advance to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in program history. The Highlanders are looking to become the first team to win back-to-back Big South crowns since Liberty in 2011-12.

SCOUTING THE CAMELS
Campbell comes into the tournament with a 14-17 overall record. Junior libero Mary Crema was named defensive player of the week after recording 44 digs in her last two matches of the regular season. Crema, who leads the league in digs per set (5.18), earned a spot on the Big South all-conference first team when the postseason honors were announced Tuesday afternoon. Campbell also leads the league in digs per set, averaging 17.44 per frame.

RADFORD ROUNDUP
The Highlanders have won eight in a row entering this week's tournament. On the strength of its winning streak, 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 (.219), opponent hitting percentage (.170) and assists per set (12.05) among Big South teams.

Rachel Wiechecki paces the offense with her 3.63 kills per set, which rank third in the Big South. Emma Deininger ranks third in hitting accuracy (.327). In addition to her offense, Wiechecki anchors the backline with her 3.97 digs per set.

TOURNEY TIME
Radford enters the conference tournament as the top seed for the fifth time in its program history and the second time in as many years. The Highlanders will be gunning for their sixth league tournament title. RU has reached the championship match nine times.

ON DECK
With a win Thursday against Campbell, Radford would advance to Friday's 4:30 p.m. semifinal match against the winner between No. 4 seed Winthrop and No. 5 seed Presbyterian.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

Players Mentioned

#3 Emma Deininger

#8 Rachel Wiechecki

Players Mentioned

#3 Emma Deininger

#8 Rachel Wiechecki