VOLLEYBALL BRACES FOR CHALLENGING WEEKEND IN NATION’S CAPITAL

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SETTING THE STAGE

Radford embarks on its first road trip of the season as the Highlanders visit the nation's capital for the George Washington Invitational, Friday and Saturday.
RU will clash with UC Davis, Princeton and host George Washington in its second tournament of the season.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 4 (at Charles E. Smith Center | Washington, D.C.)
Radford vs. UC Davis, 12 p.m. (Live Stats)
Radford vs. Princeton, 5:30 p.m. (Live Stats)

Saturday, Sept. 5 (at Charles E. Smith Center | Washington, D.C.)
Radford at George Washington, 3 p.m. (Live Stats | Live Video)

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 3-0
The Highlanders open the season 3-0 for the first time since 2008.
By going unbeaten, RU captured its home tournament for the first time since 2009.
With its 15^th straight win at home, Radford ties the record for longest home winning streak in program history.
Maddie Palmer claimed MVP honors, totaling 62 kills, which were the most from a Big South player over the opening weekend.
She posted a double-double in each of RU's three matches; Palmer only had three double-doubles during her freshman campaign.
Megan Short and Haley Kleespies joined Palmer on the all-tournament team.
Short hit a team-best .405 on her way to 43 kills for the tournament.
Kleespies delivered 141 assists in her Highlander debut, which was the top mark by a Big South setter following the opening weekend of action.
Three of Radford's nine freshmen saw action during the Radford/Virginia Tech Invitational.
Kelby Jackson, who ranks eighth all-time in career digs (855), notched a career-high 28 digs in the 3-1 win over Washington State.

SCOUTING UC DAVIS

Record: 0-3
Series: first meeting
The Aggies opened their season at the Rams Volleyball Classic hosted by Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo.
Northern Iowa, the 12^th-ranked Rams and Baylor all dealt UC Davis a loss.
Kaylin Squyres, who was an All-Big West first-team selection in 2014, paces the Aggie attack at 4.42 kills per set.
She posted a double-double in each of UC Davis' three matches last weekend.
Malia Bolko anchors the back row with her 3.92 digs per set.
Four Aggies average over one block per set.
UC Davis is under the direction of second-year head coach Dan Conners, who was the top assistant at Illinois, previously.

SCOUTING PRINCETON

Record: 0-0
Series: 1-0
Princeton did not play during opening weekend.
The Tigers went 14-10 with a 9-5 Ivy League record in 2014.
Kendall Peterkin captured All-Ivy League first-team honors after totaling 423 kills (4.55 per set).
Radford defeated Princeton, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-15), at The Mason Inn Patriot Invitational hosted by George Mason in 2013.

SCOUTING GEORGE WASHINGTON

Record: 1-3
Series: 0-1
GW won the lone meeting between the two schools in 2002 (30-18, 30-12, 30-20).
The Colonials opened their season at the Michigan Invitational, going 1-2. Their lone win came against West Virginia in straight sets.
GW dropped a 3-2 decision to 11^th-ranked Oregon on Tuesday night after leading 2-0 in the match.
A-10 Player of the Week Chidima Osuchukwu headlines the Colonials' offense at 3.59 kills per set.
Maddy Doyle anchors the backline with her 3.82 digs per set.
Osuchukwu is GW's top blocker at 1.41 per set.
The Colonials finished 22-8 in 2014 and advanced to the championship match of the A-10 tournament.

UP NEXT

Radford travels to Atlanta, Ga., for the Georgia State Invitational (Sept. 11-12) where the Highlanders will clash with DePaul, Georgia State and Grambling State.

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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