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3
Winner Radford RAD 5-0
0
UAB UAB 2-3
Winner
Radford RAD
5-0
3
Final
0
UAB UAB
2-3
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Radford RAD 25 26 25 (3)
UAB UAB 21 24 20 (0)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

RADFORD COLLECTS FOURTH SWEEP IN A ROW WITH WIN OVER UAB



BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Radford collected its fourth sweep in a row, giving the Highlanders their longest streak since 2001 with a 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-20) victory over host UAB in its second match of the UAB/Samford Challenge, Friday night inside Bartow Arena.
 
Radford opened the match on a 11-3 run, on three kills from Maddie Palmer and three service aces off the hot hand of Haley Kleespies. The Highlanders continued to dominate following the hot start as three Blazer errors gave RU a commanding 19-9 lead.  Needing only six points to close out the match, Radford witnessed the Blazers attempt a late comeback. UAB rattled off 12 points for a 12-4 run, pulling within 24-21. The run saw three kills apiece from Erika Zembyla and Haley Jared. Palmer ended the run with her sixth kill of the set for a 25-21 win.
 
The Blazers carried their momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 13-8 lead, eventually building it to 20-15. Coming out of a timeout, Radford turned the offense up a notch as two Mallory McKnight kills sparked a Highlander charge, cutting the deficit to 21-19. The two foes exchanged points, before back-to-back kills by Palmer gave RU a 24-23 lead. Following a Palmer serving error, Radford captured the second set (26-24) on a UAB service error and Stephanie Neast kill.
 
Coming out of the break, Radford had its eyes set on its third straight sweep. The third set was as game of runs as both squads opened the match with 4-0 runs. Radford's second 4-0 run gave the Highlanders an 8-4 lead on kills from Amaya Rousseau and Palmer. UAB could not overcome errors in the final set, totaling 11 errors. Palmer closed the book on the Blazers with her fifth and sixth kills of the set for a 25-20 sweeping victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • The fourth straight sweep in the longest streak since 2001, when the Highlanders swept nine in a row.
  • Today marks the second two-match sweep on the season. RU defeated Tennessee Tech earlier in the day.
  • Radford improves to 5-0, its longest winning streak since 2014 when Radford won nine in a row.
  • Maddie Palmer finished with a match-high 18 kills, collecting six kills in each set.
  • Amaya Rousseau (6), Mallory McKnight (5), Sydney Tekstra (5) and Stephanie Neast (5) rounded out the RU attack.
  • The group assisted on three blocks each as the Highlanders finished with 10 blocks.
  • Haley Kleespies finished with 32 assists, eight digs and four aces. She now has 11 aces on the season.
  • Kaylor Nash and Kelby Jackson led the Highlanders in the dig category. Nash finished with 12 and Jackson with 11.
  • Radford finished with a .220 hitting percentage, while holding UAB to .152
 
QUOTABLE
  • "UAB was big and physical, I thought we handled them pretty well during good stretches.We touched a lot of balls on the block to slow them down, which helped us stay somewhat in system.It was good win for us and we just look to continue to improve on every aspect moving forward." ~ head coach Marci Jenkins
 
UP NEXT
  • Radford wraps up the challenge on Saturday, taking on SE Missouri State at 2 p.m. and Samford at 8 p.m.

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