Big South Sports Photos

Box Score

Coastal Carolina COASTAL 25-6

Radford RAD 24-8

Coastal Carolina COASTAL

25-6

Final

Nov. 23, 2014

Radford RAD

24-8

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	5	F
Coastal Carolina COASTAL	25	15	25	20	16	(3)
Radford RAD	14	25	21	25	14	(2)

Game Recap: Volleyball | 11/23/2014 5:00:00 PM

RADFORD’S QUEST FOR A REPEAT COMES UP SHORT AGAINST CHANTICLEERS

Follow @RadfordVB

CONWAY, S.C. – Only three points away from repeating as the Big South volleyball tournament champion, Radford was unable to stop a Coastal Carolina 4-0 run that propelled the Chanticleers to a 16-14 win in the fifth set. Coastal claimed its first tournament title since 2009 and fourth overall by a 3-2 (25-14, 15-25, 25-21, 20-25, 16-14) decision Sunday afternoon inside The HTC Center.

The championship match marked the third-straight season and sixth time overall CCU and Radford squared off in the Big South tournament.

On the strength of Rachel Wiechecki's 25^th double-double (19 kills and 24 digs), the Highlanders (24-8) nearly escaped with a championship on the Chants' home court. However, Coastal (25-6) managed an impressive 94 digs to keep the No. 2 seed in the hunt.

"That was an incredible match," head coach Marci Jenkins said. "Both teams played at a high level, but Coastal was able to make the plays it needed to down the stretch to win. I am so proud of this team and what these young women have accomplished. Our five seniors helped bring Radford back into the championship picture."

The senior class of Wiechecki, Emma Deininger, Jena Braden, Savannah Cantrell and Kristina Cascio finished with an astounding 82-49 overall record. The quintet guided the Highlanders to back-to-back conference regular-season championships and one tournament title. In addition, Radford advanced to the tournament title match three of the seniors' four seasons.

"We laid it all on the line today," Wiechecki expressed. "There were so many big-time plays made out there on both sides. It hurts we weren't able to repeat as tournament champions, but I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to play with this team. I love my teammates so much. When I came to Radford four years ago, I wanted to help the program return to what it once was: a championship contender. With that being said, this senior class accomplished that and much more."

Wiechecki made her mark in Radford's records book. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter finished as the all-time leader in the rally-scoring era for kills (1,465), double-doubles (63) and points (1,723). She was also the program's first-ever AVCA all-region honoree.

Meanwhile, Deininger finished her career as the Highlanders' top blocker in the rally-scoring era. She recorded 426 blocks in an RU uniform. At the setter position, Braden dished out 3,494 assists, which rank second all-time for the rally-scoring era. She tallied 46 assists and 11 digs against the Chants.

Although Radford will have a difficult task of replacing the five seniors, the 2015 returners stepped up in a big way Sunday. Junior Savanna Burton was able to find success on the right side, sending down 12 kills and securing 14 digs. Sophomore Kelby Jackson was also able to collect 14 digs, while freshman Kaylor Nash nearly reached double digits with eight digs. Freshman Maddie Palmer terminated eight kills in the five-set affair.

On the other side of the net, Coastal could not be stopped on the left side of the court. Outside hitters Leah Hardeman and Katie Martin each chipped in 24 kills to account for 48 of the Chants' 65 kills. Libero Jenna Orner controlled a match-high 31 digs, while setter Sam Skryd assisted on 52 attacks.

For their efforts in Conway, Wiechecki and Cantrell were named to the all-tournament team.

With the win, Coastal clinches the Big South's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, which begins the first weekend of December.

9774