VOLLEYBALL HOSTS IN-STATE RIVAL LIBERTY FOR HOME OPENER

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RADFORD, Va. – After 39 days away from the Dedmon Center, the Radford volleyball team will make its first regular season appearance at home on Tuesday evening against in-state rival Liberty at 7 p.m.

SETTING THE STAGE
• Location: Radford, Va. (Dedmon Center)
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Live Stats
• Watch Live

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS (13-2, 3-1 BIG SOUTH)
• The Highlanders (13-2, 3-1) suffered its first Big South loss on Saturday against reigning Big South Tournament champion High Point. Both of Radford's losses this season have come in three set matches.
• Last week, Maddie Palmer tallied a combined 33 kills and 23 digs against Campbell and High Point. She recorded her ninth double-double of the season against Campbell.
• Also against the Fighting Camels, Kaylor Nash recorded a career-high 29 digs.
• Stephanie Neast picked up her second career double-double in the Campbell match with 14 kills and 13 digs.
• The Highlanders are averaging 12.3 kills per set and have 687 kills to opponents 609.
• Radford is outscoring its opponents 1,243-1,094 and have outscored them by 78 in the third set alone.
• Palmer leads the team with 221 kills and is averaging 3.95 kills per set, which leads the conference.
• Haley Kleespies reached the 500 assists milestone for the season against High Point and now has 513.
• The Highlanders are still in the top 15 nationally in opposing hitting percentage as they are holding the opposition to .150, which comes in at 14^th.
• The Highlanders rank second in the conference in hitting percentage at .224.
• In the first edition of NCAA Volleyball RPI polls that were released on Monday, Radford ranks No. 72. The ranking is the second best in the conference and is better than all but one opponent the Highlanders have played so far this season.

SCOUTING LIBERTY (5-11, 2-1 BIG SOUTH)
• Series: Liberty leads 32-44 (Last Meeting: October 25, 2016 | W, 3-1)
• Liberty (5-11, 2-1 Big South) is coming of back-to-back five set wins at home against Presbyterian and UNC Asheville.
• The Flames opened Big South play with a four-set loss to High Point.
• The other three Liberty wins came against non-conference opponents; Hofstra, Air Force and Morgan State.
• The Flames are being outplayed by their opponent in almost every statistical category except total blocks leading, 129 to 120.5.
• The 129 total blocks are second in the conference, behind Gardner-Webb.
• Anna Gragg leads the team with 52 total blocks and is averaging 0.91 blocks per set.
• Offensively, Gragg has 135 kills and is hitting .321 averaging 2.37 kills per set.

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Players Mentioned

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

#18 Kaylor Nash: DS; 5' 9"; Senior

#19 Stephanie Neast: RS; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#20 Maddie Palmer: OH; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

#18 Kaylor Nash
: 5' 9"; Senior
: DS

#19 Stephanie Neast
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: RS

#20 Maddie Palmer
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OH