RADFORD HEADS TO TOLEDO TO WRAP UP NON-CONFERENCE PLAY

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SETTING THE STAGE

Radford concludes its non-conference schedule at the Blue/Gold Challenge hosted by Toledo, Sept. 18-19.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 18 (at Savage Arena | Toledo, Ohio)
Radford vs. Cleveland State, 10 a.m. (Live Stats)
Radford at Toledo, 7 p.m. (Live Stats | Live Video)

Saturday, Sept. 19 (at Savage Arena | Toledo, Ohio)
Radford vs. Robert Morris, 11 a.m. (Live Stats)

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 6-4
Radford is riding a three-match winning streak and has not dropped a set in its last eight tries.
Megan Short hit a season-high .643 in the Highlanders' 3-0 win over Norfolk State, Tuesday.
Maddie Palmer continues to lead Radford and the Big South in kills (177), kills per set (4.32), points (193.5) and points per set (4.72).
RU ranks first in kills per set (13.17) and assists per set (12.07) among Big South programs.
Haley Kleespies is the conference leader in assists per set (10.91).
Kelby Jackson is on pace to become the fifth Highlander to reach 1,000 career digs during the rally scoring era.
She has 960 career digs, which rank sixth all-time in program history.

SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE

Record: 8-3
Series: Cleveland State leads, 2-0
Radford last met the Vikings in 1998 in a tournament hosted by Tennessee.
CSU boasts Power-5 wins over Indiana, Notre Dame and Baylor.
The Vikings were predicted to finish fifth in the Horizon League.
They are under the direction of 16-year head coach Chuck Voss, who has posted at least a .500 record or better for the past six seasons.
Senior Christina Toth spearheads the Cleveland State offense at 3.80 kills per set.
Junior Grace Kauth, an All-Horizon League first-team selection in 2014, ranks second on the squad with her 3.40 kills per set.
Sophomore Gina Kilner, who was named to the Horizon League's all-newcomer team last year, averages 10.11 assists per set.
CSU's roster features seven newcomers, including six freshmen.

SCOUTING TOLEDO

Record: 1-9
Series: first meeting
The Rockets carry 14 underclassmen on their roster, including eight freshmen.
Toledo has played in three five-set matches this season.
Four starters return off of last season's team that finished with a 1-28 record.
Mary O'Connor cranks a team-best 2.76 kills per set, while Rachel Vidourek swings out of the middle at a .350 clip.

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS

Record: 5-5
Series: Robert Morris leads, 2-1
Radford faces its second Northeast Conference opponent of the season in RMU. LIU Brooklyn was the other NEC foe.
The Colonials are on a three-match losing streak after dropping all three matches at the Borderland Invitational co-hosted by New Mexico State and UTEP.
Ironically, Radford played in a tournament hosted by New Mexico State last season.
RMU was predicted to finish third in the NEC preseason poll.
The Colonials return All-NEC honorees Kristin Thompson and Arden Fisher from last year's contingent.
Fisher is the top offensive threat at 3.39 kills per set.

UP NEXT

Radford opens Big South competition next Friday, Sept. 25 when in-state rival Liberty invades the Dedmon Center for a 7 p.m. first serve.
The Highlanders will look to set the school record for consecutive home matches won. RU has prevailed in 15 straight, which is tied for the program record set from 1990-91.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Kelby Jackson: L; 5' 5"; Junior

#20 Maddie Palmer: OH; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

#3 Haley Kleespies: S; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Kelby Jackson
: 5' 5"; Junior
: L

#20 Maddie Palmer
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH

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

#3 Haley Kleespies
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: S