RADFORD HOSTS HPU FOR CONFERENCE-OPENING SHOWDOWN TUESDAY

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SETTING THE STAGE

The Radford volleyball team opens up Big South play by hosting preseason favorite High Point Tuesday night inside the Dedmon Center, with first serve set for 7 p.m.
The teams own the two best records among conference teams this season, with the Highlanders at 9-3 and the Panthers at 9-4.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Kelby Jackson has moved up to third in Radford rally-scoring history with 1,382 career digs and now trails only Katelyn Meeks (1,506) and Rachel Wiechecki (1,461). She has had double-digit totals in eight of the last nine matches, and is now sixth in the conference with 3.57 per set.
Maddie Palmer remains the Big South leader in kills (172), kills per set (4.23) and points per set (4.87). She has posted eight double-doubles this season and 24 for her career, one shy of tying for fourth on the program's rally-scoring list.
Haley Kleespies ranks first in the conference in assists per set (10.62) and second in aces per set (0.52). The sophomore is averaging nearly two assists per set more than any other player in the league.
Mallory McKnight leads all Big South freshmen and is fifth overall with her .290 hitting percentage. She is coming off a career-best 16-kill performance against Virginia Tech. She is second on the team with 91 for the season.
Amaya Rousseau is now fifth in the conference in blocks per set (1.03), and totaled 20 kills in the two matches at the Hokie Invitational, giving her 61 on the year.
Along with Jackson's 150 digs, Palmer has 134 and Kaylor Nash 131.
As a team, Radford tops the conference offensively in hitting percentage (2.32), kills per set (12.83) and assists per set (12.00). Defensively, the Highlanders lead the way in opponent hitting percentage (.152) and are fifth in both digs and blocks per set.

SCOUTING HIGH POINT

High Point has won three of its last four matches, including a 2-1 performance at Wake Forest's Black and Gold Invitational last weekend, where it defeated the host Demon Deacons in four sets, along with Wofford.
The Panthers also own earlier victories at N.C. State (3-1) and over UNC Greensboro at home (3-2).
HPU is second in the conference behind Radford in both hitting percentage (.211) and kills per set (12.42), while ranking third in blocks per set and aces per set and fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.177).
Junior outside hitter Haley Barnes was tabbed the Preseason Player of the Year and ranks second in the league in kills (171), kills per set (3.29) and points per set (3.88).
Middle blocker Molly Livingston, the 2015 Freshman of the Year, has 131 kills with a .269 hitting percentage and a team-high 53 blocks.
Junior Amy Pilat ranks fifth in the conference with 4.12 digs per set.
Sophomore right side Katie Tylman has contributed 99 kills and 39 blocks, while freshman Jenna Smith and Carly Jimenez have split the setting duties, with each totaling over 250.
Head coach Tom Mendoza is in his first season at HPU. He previously was at Creighton for six years, including the last three as associate head coach, helping the Blue Jays to five NCAA Tournaments.

SERIES HISTORY

Radford leads the all-time series 26-16 and has taken four of the last six meetings.
High Point, however, won both matchups last year, notching a four-set victory at home before holding off a Highlanders' rally in a five-setter in the Dedmon Center.

UP NEXT

Radford hits the road for a pair of matches this weekend, playing at Presbyterian Friday night before a Saturday afternoon contest at Campbell.

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