RADFORD OPENS HOME SLATE WITH THREE SET WIN OVER PRESBYTERIAN

Friday, October 27

Radford

7 p.m.

Radford University

19-3, 9-2Big South

Presbyterian

5-20, 2-9Big South

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Presbyterian	24	17	14	0
Radford	26	25	25	3

Photo by: Radford Athletics Communications

RADFORD OPENS HOME SLATE WITH THREE SET WIN OVER PRESBYTERIAN

10/27/2017 10:37:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

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MATCH INFORMATION
Score: Radford 3, Presbyterian 0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-14)
Records: Highlanders (19-3, 9-2 Big South) | Blue Hose (5-20, 2-9 Big South)
Location: Radford, Va. (Dedmon Center)

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford volleyball team defeated Presbyterian in straight sets on Friday night at the Dedmon Center en route to its sixth win in a row and 15^th straight set win.

Radford (19-3, 9-2 Big South) fought off a tough Presbyterian (5-20, 2-9 Big South) first set brigade. The two teams combined for 36 kills in the set alone as the Highlanders picked up 19 and hit .292, while the Blue Hose hit .255 with 17 kills. The set also featured six ties and three lead changes. With the set tied at five, the Highlanders went on a 5-1 run as Amaya Rousseau held serve.

The scrappy Blue Hose team made a push climbing back from a four-point deficit tying it at 18. Presbyterian eventually took a 21-19 lead on a service ace and a kill from Allie Wright. The teams traded points over the next six serves and Radford fell behind, 24-22. On the brink of dropping the first set, the Highlanders took advantage of a Caroline Henderson attack error and scored two straight points putting the Blue Hose on the edge of losing the first set, 25-24. Following a Presbyterian timeout, the senior leader Maddie Palmer gave Radford a 1-0 set advantage with her fifth kill of the set.

The Highlanders found a groove defensively, holding the Blue Hose to only five kills and a -.062 hitting percentage in set number two. After PC took a 3-0 lead, Radford answered with seven straight points. That was the last time the Highlanders were behind the remainder of the match. Radford went on another run this time a 7-4 run giving them a 14-7 advantage. The Blue Hose battled back, cutting the lead to two, 14-12, but the Highlanders closed the set on an 11-5 run with a Mallory McKnight kill capping the set.

In the third set, the Highlanders jumped out to a 3-0 lead and didn't look back hitting .375 with 17 kills routing the Blue Hose, 25-14, completing the sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Radford picked up nine service aces on Friday, which ties a season-high in three sets as the Highlanders opened the season with nine against Coppin State in a three-set victory.
• Freshman Jordan Coomes led the team with three service aces. Maddie Palmer and Valerie Gonzalez contributed with two aces of their own.
• The Highlanders piled up 50 kills as a trio of players picked up double-digit kills. Palmer led the charge with 13, while Mallory McKnight and Gonzalez added 10.
• Gonzalez picked up her third straight double-double with 10 digs and 10 kills. Also, joining the double-double club was Maddie Palmer with her 14^th of the season.
• Palmer tallied a team-high 22 digs, which ties a season-high for the senior. However, it is the most she has picked up in a three-set match.
• Kaylor Nash, wearing the libero jersey, covered the floor like a blanket tallying 19 digs.
• Haley Kleespies added four kills and led all players with 38 assists. She was two digs shy of picking up a double-double recording eight on the night.
• The Highlanders held the Blue Hose to a .156 hitting percentage and only 32 kills, including just five in the second set.
• Presbyterian led Radford in blocks as the team recorded six total, whereas the Highlanders had five.

QUOTABLE
"I thought we did a nice job at the service line tonight, especially after settling down in sets two and three. We also did a good job at the net with getting our hands on balls and blocking balls, which led the come back after set number one. We got ourselves in a defensive rhythm, which also led to the great win for us." ~ Marci Jenkins

UP NEXT
The Highlanders look to make it seven wins in a row on Saturday night against Gardner-Webb in a 'Pink Out' match. First serve is slated for 7 p.m., and fans will receive FREE pink t-shirts while supplies last.

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