Volleyball 10/26/2017 3:51:00 PM

VOLLEYBALL LOOKS TO DEFEND DEDMON IN TWO-MATCH HOMESTAND

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RADFORD, Va. – The Highlander volleyball team, winners of five straight matches, returns to the Dedmon Center to take on Presbyterian and Gardner-Webb for the second time this season. The Presbyterian match is set for Friday at 7 p.m., while the Gardner-Webb match will begin at 4 p.m., on Saturday.

SETTING THE STAGE
• Location: Radford, Va. (Dedmon Center)
• Time: 7 p.m. | 4 p.m.
• Live Stats
• Watch Live (PC) | Watch Live (GWU)

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS (18-3, 8-2 BIG SOUTH)
• The Highlanders (18-3, 8-2 Big South) have won 12 straight sets, which propelled them to back-to-back wins last weekend against Charleston Southern and UNC Asheville.
• Maddie Palmer became the fifth player in program history to record 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs as she picked up 10 digs against Charleston Southern on Friday night.
• Valerie Gonzalez is coming off two double-double performances last weekend. It was the first and second career double-double for the junior.
• During the five-win stretch, the Highlanders have picked up 287 kills as a team with a .351 hitting percentage and are averaging 16.9 kills per set.
• Defensively during the stretch, Radford has picked up 36 blocks compared to all opponents 15 total blocks.
• Three Highlanders have 100-plus kills against Big South competition. Palmer leads the team with 154 kills in Big South play, while Stephanie Neast has 111 and Gonzalez is right behind with 107.
• Amaya Rousseau has a team-high 29 total blocks in conference play and has tallied 60 total blocks overall this season.
• Palmer picked up a season-high 25 kills in the previous match against Presbyterian. As a team
• Last time against Gardner-Webb, the Highlanders outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs 50-36 in the final two sets as trio of players picked up double-digit kills.
• Radford ranks No. 73 in the most recent RPI polls.

SCOUTING PRESBYTERIAN (5-19, 2-10 BIG SOUTH)
• Series: Radford leads 10-7 (Last Meeting: October 7, 2017 | W, 3-1)
• The Blue Hose are looking to rebound after dropping three straight matches against Big South foes at home. The most recent match was a 3-1 loss to Campbell on October 21.
• Erin Eulitz leads Presbyterian with 276 kills (2.91 per set) this season, which is seventh-best in the Big South so far this season,
• Daley Gosnell is second in the Big South and leads her team in digs this year, with 441 (5.01 per set).
• Eulitz and Caroline Henderson are on each others heels thus far in digs and are just outside the top-10 in the conference in that category, with Eulitz recording 279 digs (2.94 per set) and Henderson recording 278 (2.93 digs per set).
• As a team, Presbyterian ranks last in the Big South for opponent's hitting percentage as other teams hare hitting .228 this year.
• All five of Presbyterian's wins have come on the road.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB (7-16, 1-9 BIG SOUTH)
• Series: Radford leads 16-4 (Last Meeting: September 22, 2017 | W, 3-0)
• Gardner-Webb (7-16, 1-9 Big South) has dropped eight straight matches, including back-to-back three-set losses to High Point and Campbell.
• On the road, GWU is 2-7 overall with an 0-4 Big South record.
• The Runnin' Bulldogs are led by Kaelyn Dyson; whose next kill will be the 200^th of the season. She is averaging 2.37 kills per set and is hitting .300 this season.
• Emma Milstead has tallied 378 season digs (4.40 per set) and Keira Moore leads the squad with 84 total blocks on the defensive end.
• Dyson and Nicole Celarek are neck-and-neck with 82 and 80 kills, respectively in Big South play.

GAMEDAY PROMOTION (PRESBYTERIAN)
Friday night's match against Presbyterian is Halloween themed. Upon arrival to Dedmon fans will receive FREE candy at the door. All fans are encouraged to dress up in a Halloween costume for a contest (Best Overall and Best Duo/Group for kid and adult age groups).

GAMEDAY PROMOTION (GARDNER-WEBB)
Saturday's match with Gardner-Webb is the annual "Pink Out" match. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. There will be a FREE pink t-shirt giveaway at the match, while supplies last.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Valerie Gonzalez: RS; 6' 1"; Junior

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

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

#8 Amaya Rousseau: MB; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#5 Valerie Gonzalez
: 6' 1"; Junior
: RS

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

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

#8 Amaya Rousseau
: 6' 1"; Junior
: MB