RADFORD OPENS BIG SOUTH PLAY WITH TWO SWEEPS; FIRST SINCE 2013

Friday, September 23

Clinton, S.C.

7:00 PM

Radford University

11-3, 2-0Big South

Presbyterian

2-13, 0-2Big South

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Radford	25	25	25	3
Presbyterian	12	14	21	0

Photo by: RUHighlanderPhotos.com

RADFORD OPENS BIG SOUTH PLAY WITH TWO SWEEPS; FIRST SINCE 2013

9/23/2016 8:30:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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MATCH INFORMATION

Score: Radford 3, Presbyterian 0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-21)
Records: Radford (11-3, 2-0 Big South) | Presbyterian (2-13, 0-2 Big South)
Location: Ross E. Templeton Center| Clinton, S.C.

CLINTON, S.C. – Radford opens its season with two Big South wins for the first time since 2013 as the Highlanders defeated Presbyterian 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-21) on a 14-kill kill and five-service ace homecoming effort by Maddie Palmer, Friday night in the Templeton Center.

Radford came out of the gate on fire, opening the match with eight straight points, aided by four Presbyterian errors. The Highlander lead continued to increase as a block from Mallory McKnight and Sydney Tekstra fueled RU momentum, while an Amaya Rousseau kill made the score 15-4. Tekstra hammered down three straight kills, extending the lead to 18-8. The Blue Hose committed four errors down the stretch as the Highlanders opened the match with a 25-12 win.

The second set saw the Blue Hose open with a 4-3 lead, before the Highlanders rattled off four straight kills as McKnight and Tekstra had two each. Presbyterian answered every Radford point, until the Highlanders went on an 8-1 run midway through the second set. The run started with four straight points from Palmer, coming on three consecutive aces and a kill.

After a RU attacking error, the run continued with a Lidija Mamic kill and three Blue Hose errors, giving the Highlanders an 18-10 lead. Radford took the set as the duo of Palmer and McKnight finished off the Blue Hose. The duo collected back-to-back kills, giving RU a 25-14 win with a block to close out the set.

Coming out of the break, Presbyterian was not going to go away without a fight. The Blue Hose opened the match with a 5-1 run, building a 17-14 lead. A Valerie Gonzalez kill and Emma Wroblicky service ace pulled the Highlanders within 17-16. Radford battled back, taking a 20-19 lead on a Palmer kill and two Blue Hose errors.

Following Presbyterian knotting the match at 21, Palmer closed out the match with three out of the final four points for a 25-21 sweeping match victory. The Palmer points came on two kills and an ace.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Radford improves to 10-0 when winning the opening set, including nine sweeps.
The Highlanders open the season with two Big South wins for the first time since 2013, both wins coming on sweeps.
Maddie Palmer filled the stat sheet in the victory; finishing with 14 kills, nine digs, five aces and two blocks.
The five service aces give her 22 on the season, her second five-service ace plus effort on the season.
Following Palmer attacking efforts, Sydney Tekstra finished with eight kills, giving her 17 in the last two matches.
Haley Kleespies now has 512 assists on the year after a 31-assist performance.
In the digs department; Kelby Jackson led the way with 12 with Kaylor Nash (9) and Emma Wroblicky (7) following.
Radford collected eight blocks, holding Presbyterian to a .044 attacking percentage.
In the dominating opening set performance by the RU defense, Presbyterian finished with a -.133 percentage.

QUOTABLE

"Road wins are always tough and Presbyterian is a tough place to play. Our kids handled it well, including being able to battle back in the third set." ~ head coach Marci Jenkins.

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