TOP-SEEDED RADFORD SEEKS TWO WINS FOR BIG SOUTH TOURNEY TITLE

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SETTING THE STAGE

The top-seeded Radford volleyball team begins its pursuit of the 2016 Big South Tournament championship when it meets No. 4 Campbell in a semifinal match on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Lynchburg, Va.
The Highlanders won both regular-season meetings with Campbell in four sets.
The teams also met in last year's semifinals, with the Fighting Camels winning in four.
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HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Records: 23-5
Radford is the tournament's top seed for the third time in four years and is seeking its sixth Big South tourney title, which would break a tie for second-most in conference history.
The Highlanders won seven of their last eight matches to finish with their most regular-season wins since 2000.
Big South Player of the Year Maddie Palmer heads into the postseason third in program single-season rally-scoring history with 447 kills, while ranking 20th nationally in kills per set, 18th in points per set and 30th in aces per set.
All-Big South First Team setter Haley Kleespies ranks 16th in the NCAA with her 11.26 assists per set average, which is on pace to be second-best at Radford for a season in the rally-scoring era.
All-Conference honorees Sydney Tekstra (204 kills), Mallory McKnight (195) and Amaya Rousseau (186) each averaged over 2.00 kills per set to help back up Palmer.
Stephanie Neast recorded at least eight kills in three of the last six matches, including a career-high tying 10 in the finale.
Kelby Jackson leads the Highlanders' balanced backline defense with 383 digs (3.75 per set), followed by Palmer (326) and Kaylor Nash (305). Palmer and Nash's totals are career highs for the juniors.
Rousseau has anchored the net with 85 blocks, while getting help from 55 each by McKnight and Neast.
Radford finished the regular-season first in conference play in hitting percentage, kills, assists and aces, while ranking second in opponent hitting percentage.
The Highlanders were 19-2 when winning the opening set, posted a 13-1 in three-set matches and were a perfect 4-0 in five-setters.

SCOUTING CAMPBELL

Records: 16-15
Campbell advanced with a 3-1 victory over Charleston Southern in Friday's first round.
The Fighting Camels have won five of their last six matches, with the lone loss coming to Radford on Nov. 4.
Jenny Tait was an All-Big South first-team selection after leading the conference in hitting percentage (.365), while ranking first on the team with 102 blocks and third with 250 kills.
Loni Kreun was a second-team pick after posting a team-high 318 kills during the regular season, along with ranking third in digs with 300.
Fellow All-Big South second-team member Kayla Schanback was third in the league with 519 digs. Campbell was second in the conference in digs as a team.
Allena Heath was named to the All-Freshman Team after ranking second on the team with 292 kills.

UP NEXT

With a win Saturday, Radford would face either No. 2 Liberty, No. 3 High Point or No. 6 UNC Asheville in Sunday's Big South championship match, scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPN3.

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Players Mentioned

#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

#19 Stephanie Neast: RS; 6' 0"; Freshman

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

Players Mentioned

#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

#19 Stephanie Neast
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: RS

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