VOLLEYBALL CO-HOSTS SEASON-OPENING TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND

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LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO (WAKE FOREST) | LIVE VIDEO (NORFOLK STATE) | LIVE VIDEO (ST. FRANCIS)

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford volleyball team is set to open the season at home for the second straight year as it co-hosts the Radford/Virginia Tech Invitational, Friday and Saturday, inside the Dedmon Center.

RU begins the 2016 campaign by taking on ACC member Wake Forest, Friday at 12 p.m. The Highlanders will then face Norfolk State and St. Francis (N.Y.) on Saturday at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.

Twelve returners, led by seniors Kelby Jackson and Emma Wroblicky, juniors Maddie Palmer and Kaylor Nash, and sophomores Haley Kleespies and Valerie Gonzalez, are joined by six freshmen on this year's squad as Marci Jenkins begins her ninth season.

Jackson led the team with 425 digs last year, while Palmer was second in kills (336), despite missing eight matches due to injury. Kleespies was the Big South's leader in assists per set, totaling 1,040 on her way to earning Big South all-freshman team honors.

Radford was victorious in this tournament last year, going a perfect 3-0, including a win over Pac-12 member Washington State and a comeback victory over Elon.

Appalachian State, Siena, UMBC will also take part in this year's tournament, along with Virginia Tech.

SCOUTING WAKE FOREST

2015 Record: 12-20, 4-16 ACC
Bill Ferguson debuts as head coach of the Demon Deacons. Ferguson was the head men's coach at USC from 2005-15, compiling a 150-102 record and leading the Trojans to two national championship game appearances and three Final Fours. Last season, he served as an assistant at Cal State-Los Angeles in addition to doing TV broadcasts.
Just six players are returning from last year's squad, which features just one senior and eight freshmen or sophomores.
Junior Caroline Wolf set a new program single-season digs record with 551.
Fellow junior Kylie Long led the team in kills with 423.

SCOUTING NORFOLK STATE

2015 Record: 4-12, 3-9 MEAC
Norfolk State is also led by a first-year head coach, as Dave Albaugh takes over after serving as an assistant with the program for six seasons.
The Spartans have eight returners, including four seniors and four juniors, but are replacing their four-year setter and leading hitter from last year.
Senior Jessica Johnson redshirted in 2015 with an injury after compiling 654 kills over her first three seasons.
Junior Clarke Tyler was second on the team in kills per set last year, while totaling a team-high 51 blocks.

SCOUTING ST. FRANCIS (N.Y.)

2015 Record: 7-23, 4-10 NEC
Abra Rummel enters her third season as head coach. After going winless in conference play during her first year, the Terriers improved to fifth in the league in 2015, its best finish in over 20 seasons.
Domenique Girard leads eight returners, including five seniors. Girard was an All-NEC second team selection after totaling a team-high 287 kills and ranking fourth in the conference with 2.99 kills per set.
Senior Niehely Sosa led the team with 60 blocks, while senior Alexa Caporuscio was first in digs with 308 and sophomore Angela Hudelson was second in assists.

2016 Radford/Virginia Tech Invitational (Dedmon Center Schedule)
Friday, Aug. 26
Radford vs. Wake Forest, 12 p.m.
UMBC vs. Norfolk State, 2:30 p.m.
St. Francis (N.Y.) vs. Norfolk State, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 27
UMBC vs. St. Francis (N.Y.), 12 p.m.
Radford vs. Norfolk State, 3 p.m.
Radford vs. St. Francis (N.Y.), 6 p.m.

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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

#6 Emma Wroblicky: DS; 5' 5"; Senior

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

#6 Emma Wroblicky
: 5' 5"; Senior
: DS