IN-STATE RIVALS COLLIDE IN FRIDAY’S BIG SOUTH OPENER

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SETTING THE STAGE

Radford hosts in-state rival Liberty, Friday at 7 p.m., in both teams' Big South opener inside the Dedmon Center.
RU and the Flames split the season series last year with each side winning at home.
The Highlanders have won two in a row against Liberty on their home floor.
This is the 72^nd all-time meeting between the two programs.
RU (2013-14) and Liberty (2007-12) have combined for the last eight Big South regular-season championships.
Radford head coach Marci Jenkins (2011, 2013, 2014) and Flames' head coach Shane Pinder (2007, 2010, 2012) have combined for six of the last eight Big South Coach of the Year honors.
The Highlanders will aim to set the program record for consecutive home matches won. Radford has prevailed in 15 straight, which is tied for the program record set from 1990-91.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 7-6, 0-0 Big South
Radford is coming off a 3-0 win against Robert Morris last Saturday in the Blue/Gold Challenge in Toledo, Ohio.
Kelby Jackson became the fifth Radford volleyball player in the rally-scoring era to reach 1,000 career digs. Her total now stands at 1,013 digs, which rank fifth in program history.
Maddie Palmer continues to lead Radford and the Big South in kills (230), kills per set (4.34), points (248) and points per set (4.68).
Palmer ranks 21^st in the nation in kills per set and 17^th in attacks per set (11.91).
Megan Short ranks second in the Big South in hitting percentage (.363) and fifth in kills per set (2.93).
RU ranks first in kills per set (13.51) and assists per set (12.40) among Big South programs.

SCOUTING LIBERTY

Record: 4-8, 0-0 Big South
Series: Liberty leads, 43-28
The Flames competed in the Hokie Invitational last weekend in Blacksburg, Va., against Chattanooga, Middle Tennessee, and Virginia Tech.
Liberty is winless in its last six matches. The Flames' last win came against Houston Baptist on Sept. 5 in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Caroline Douglas, a two-time All-Big South honoree, is Liberty's top threat on offense at 2.72 kills per set. Look for that number to increase as the Flames move forward in conference competition.
Douglas was the 2012 Big South Freshman and Player of the Year, becoming the first student-athlete to accomplish that feat in Big South volleyball history.
Anna Willey steers Liberty's offense behind her 364 assists. She ranks second in the conference in assists per set (8.88).

UP NEXT

Radford remains home next weekend when the Highlanders host UNC Asheville (Oct. 2) and Gardner-Webb (Oct. 3).

Players Mentioned