HIGHLANDERS SUFFER FIRST LOSS IN TOURNEY FINALE

Saturday, September 3

Birmingham, Ala.

8:00 PM

Radford University

6-1

Samford

5-2

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Radford	23	21	20	0
Samford	25	25	25	3

Photo by: Radford Athletics Communications

HIGHLANDERS SUFFER FIRST LOSS IN TOURNEY FINALE

9/3/2016 10:44:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Radford volleyball team saw its season-starting six-match winning streak come to an end Saturday night as it fell to Samford in three tight sets in the finale of the UAB/Samford Invitational.

Both teams entered the match unbeaten in the tournament and Samford (5-2) finished it off with a 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 victory, as the Highlanders fell to 6-1.

Radford appeared in good shape in the opening game when two kills by Stephanie Neast and one by Maddie Palmer made it 22-20 Highlanders. However, Samford took five of the next six points, four coming on kills, to pull it out and snap RU's run of 18 consecutive sets won.

The Bulldogs carried the momentum into the second game, taking an early 4-1 lead. A four-point run gave Radford a brief 9-8 edge, but Samford regained control and built a seven-point advantage. Trailing 23-16, the Highlanders tried to rally as Palmer served a pair of aces to close the gap within three, but a pair of kills by senior leader Erin Bognar closed out the game.

After a back and forth start to the third set had it tied at 11-11, Bognar delivered three kills in a decisive 5-0 run. RU got as close as 22-19, but two Samford kills and attack error ended the match.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Despite the loss, Maddie Palmer recorded her fifth double-double of the year and third of the tournament, with 16 kills and 12 digs, to go along with three aces.
However, no other Highlander had more than seven kills as they were held to a season-low .137 team hitting percentage.
Kaylor Nash recorded a team-high 14 digs, while Kelby Jackson had 13.
Haley Kleespies' 30 assists were also her lowest total of the season.
Samford hit .294 in the match and totaled 60 digs defensively, helping to a commanding 53-35 advantage in kills. The Bulldogs also had an 8-5 edge in blocks.
Bognar, a 2015 All-SoCon selection, finished with 18 kills, while Kate Neisler added 15.

UP NEXT

Radford will play in the Spartan/Aggie Invitational in Greensboro, N.C. next Friday and Saturday. The Highlanders will face co-hosts North Carolina A&T and UNC Greensboro, along with Hampton.

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