RADFORD HOSTS TWO MATCHES, LOOKING TO STAY PERFECT IN BIG SOUTH

Follow @RadfordVB

SETTING THE STAGE

The Radford volleyball team returns to action and puts its five-match winning streak and unbeaten Big South record on the line when it hosts a pair of conference matchups at the Dedmon Center.
The Highlanders will welcome Winthrop Friday at 7 p.m., before taking on Gardner-Webb Saturday at 4 p.m. in the team's annual Dig Pink match.
Live Stats | Live Video (Winthrop)
Live Stats | Live Video (Gardner-Webb)

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Records: 14-3, 5-0 Big South
Radford has already matched its victory total from last season and the 14-3 start is the program's best since it began the 2000 campaign 17-3.
The Highlanders look to match and surpass their six-match winning streak that began the season. Their longest run of victories before that was the 10-match streak that carried over into the Big South Tournament in 2014.
RU is one of two Big South unbeatens, with Charleston Southern at 3-0.
With 1,449 career digs, Kelby Jackson needs 12 more to tie Rachel Wiechecki for second in program rally-scoring history.
Radford has moved up to 13th in the nation in opponent hitting percentage, now holding teams to .150, including .144 against Big South foes.
Haley Kleespies ranks 27th nationally with her 10.93 assists per set. Her average is 1.63 more than the second-place setter in the Big South and more than 3.00 higher than anybody else.
Maddie Palmer's conference-lead leading kill total is up to 244 (4.00 per set). Mallory McKnight (120), Amaya Rousseau (111) and Sydney Tekstra (108) are now all over 100 for the season.
Palmer also continues to lead the league in points per set (4.73) and is fourth in aces per set – 25th in the NCAA.
Tekstra posted career-high kill totals in each of the last two matches, with 13 and 14, respectively. She is averaging over 10 per match in Big South play and is 10th in the league at 2.68 per set.
Rousseau ranks seventh in the conference in blocks per set, while McKnight has recorded at least three rejections in six straight matches.
Kaylor Nash totaled at least 12 digs in each of the last three matches and Valerie Gonzalez averaged 9.6 kills in that span.

SCOUTING WINTHROP

Records: 8-10, 0-3
In its first three Big South matches, Winthrop was swept by Gardner-Webb, Campbell and High Point, all at home.
In the conference play, the Eagles rank ninth (last) in hitting percentage (.122) and eighth in opponent hitting percentage (.254).
Senior middle blocker Brianna Gray leads the team with 142 kills, while hitting .318, second in the conference.
Junior middle blocker Keaupono Fey has contributed 140 kills and is averaging a team-best 2.69 kills per set (7th in the conference).
Senior Emma Weakland, who had 17 kills in Winthrop's five-set win over RU last year and was a preseason all-conference pick, is averaging just 1.77 per set this season. However, she had 10 in a three-set loss to High Point in the team's last match.
Freshman setter Sian Yamaguchi ranks third in the league with 7.34 assists per set, for a total of 470 on the season.
Sophomore Carlie Skelton is seventh in the league with 3.76 digs per set, while junior Mallary McFadden has recorded 26 service aces, sharing first in the conference at 0.45 per set.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB

Records: 10-8, 1-3
After sweeping Winthrop in its league opener, Gardner-Webb dropped three straight home conference matches, capped by a five-set defeat to UNC Asheville on Tuesday. GWU also fell to Charleston Southern in four and was swept by Presbyterian.
In league play, the Runnin' Bulldogs rank seventh in both hitting percentage (.161) and opponent hitting percentage (.204). However, they are first in blocks per set at 2.47.
Five different players have recorded over 100 kills, led by senior outside hitter Taylor Lillard (181), who ranks sixth in the league with 2.74 per set. Middle blocker Hannah Driscoll (105 kills) is fifth in hitting percentage (.296).
Redshirt freshman Emma Milstead is the conference leader with 5.29 digs per set. She has recorded at least 19 in four of the last five matches and has been named Defensive Player and Freshman of the Week each once this season.
Junior Kaelyn Dyson and Driscoll have totaled 59 and 56 blocks, respectively.

UP NEXT

After the weekend, Radford plays its next four matches on the road, beginning with a trip to Charleston Southern Oct. 14.

For the latest on Radford Athletics, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Highlander Happenings.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#5 Valerie Gonzalez: RS; 6' 1"; Sophomore

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

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

#18 Kaylor Nash: DS; 5' 9"; Junior

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

#8 Amaya Rousseau: MB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#15 Sydney Tekstra: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

#9 Mallory McKnight: MB; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Valerie Gonzalez
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: RS

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

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

#18 Kaylor Nash
: 5' 9"; Junior
: DS

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

#8 Amaya Rousseau
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: MB

#15 Sydney Tekstra
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH

#9 Mallory McKnight
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: MB