VOLLEYBALL HEADS TO ALABAMA FOR FOUR MATCHES

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SETTING THE STAGE

After going a perfect 3-0 to win its home tournament for the second straight year, the Radford volleyball team makes its first road trip of the season this weekend, traveling to Birmingham, Ala. for the UAB/Samford Challenge.
The Highlanders will face Tennessee Tech and UAB on Friday, before taking on Southeast Missouri State and Samford on Saturday.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE/LINKS
All times Eastern
Friday, Sept. 2
Radford vs. Tennessee Tech, 11 a.m. (Live Stats)
Radford at UAB, 7 p.m. (Live Stats)
Saturday, Sept. 3
Radford vs. Southeast Missouri State, 2 p.m. (Live Stats)
Radford at Samford, 8 p.m. (Live Stats | Live Video)

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 3-0
Maddie Palmer claimed tournament MVP and Big South Player of the Week honors after recording conference-bests of 56 kills, 5.09 kills per set and a .480 hitting percentage, with a pair of double-doubles during the first three matches.
Freshmen Mallory McKnight and Sydney Tekstra combined for 40 kills, while ranking second and fifth, respectively, in the conference in hitting percentage. Fellow freshmen Stephanie Neast and Lidija Mamic totaled 24 more kills.
Radford had a Big South-best .353 team hitting percentage in the opening weekend, with the next closest at .256.
Haley Kleespies also led the league with 121 assists and 11.0 assists per set, while ranking tied for third in aces (7). She had least 37 assists in all three matches while earning all-tournament honors.
Defensively, sophomore Amaya Rousseau recorded 10 blocks, with seven other Highlanders contributing at least four. As a team, Radford was third in the conference with 2.09 blocks per set.
Kaylor Nash led the way in the backline with 32 digs, with Palmer right behind with 31 and Kelby Jackson adding 21.

SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH

Record: 3-0
Tennessee Tech also had a perfect opening weekend as it went 3-0 at the Catamount Classic, defeating Charleston Southern (3-0), UAB (3-2) and host Western Carolina (3-1).
Senior Sharon Anderson was named the Ohio Valley Conference Setter of the Week after dishing out 141 assists over the three matches, including 53 vs. UAB and 48 against WCU. She also totaled 42 digs and had two double-doubles.
The Golden Eagles were balanced both offensively and defensively, with three players recording at least 32 kills and four totaling at least 34 digs.
Kellie Williams, a Preseason All-OVC selection, had 14 kills to rank sixth on the team.
TTU has 12 returning letterwinners from last year, including six starters.

SCOUTING UAB

Record: 1-2
Also competing at the Catamount Classic, UAB avoided an 0-3 start by defeating Charleston Southern (3-1) in its final match of the weekend.
Senior outside hitter Erika Zembyla led the Blazers with 51 kills, while junior outside hitter Haley Jared added 38.
UAB totaled 224 digs in the three matches, led by 66 from sophomore Emily Martinez.
Senior setter Amber Treace dished out 148 assists.
Senior outside hitter Gabby Deshotel, one of 11 returners and an All-Conference USA second team member last year after leading the team with 504 kills, played in just the first match of the tournament and had only four kills.

SCOUTING SE MISSOURI STATE

Record: 1-2
Southeast Missouri won the opener of its home tournament against New Orleans (3-1), but dropped its last two matches to Illinois-Chicago and Louisana Tech.
The Redhawks have four starters back this season, including their top two kills leaders, but are replacing both setters.
Junior outside hitter Krissa Gearring totaled a team-best 44 kills over the three matches.
Junior Nzingha Clarke, was an All-OVC selection in 2015 after leading the team in kills and ranking second in the conference in blocks per set. She had eight blocks during the opening weekend, but just 13 kills.
Junior Rachel Poole dished out 81 of the team's 105 assists.

SCOUTING SAMFORD

Record: 2-2
Samford won two of its three matches in its first home tournament, defeating Nicholls State (3-2) and South Alabama (3-0) around a three-set loss to Indiana State. The Bulldogs were then swept at Alabama Tuesday night.
Keylor Chan is in his first season as head coach after spending 15 seasons at Northwestern, leading the Wildcats to four NCAA Tournaments.
Outside hitter Erin Bognar, a 2015 All-SoCon second team selection, is one of six returning seniors. She led the team in kills last year and has 40 this season.
Outside hitter Kate Neisler, a SoCon All-Freshman team member last year, has a team-high 48 kills.
Senior setter Erika Pifer, who averaged 9.72 assists per set last year, has 104 in the first four matches.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#13 Lidija Mamic: MB; 6' 2"; Redshirt 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

#13 Lidija Mamic
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: MB

#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