Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
team

Volleyball

VOLLEYBALL OPENS 2017 SEASON AT LEHIGH FALL CLASSIC



BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Radford women's volleyball team begins a new season as they open at the Lehigh Fall Classic on Friday at 3 p.m., against Coppin State. The tournament will continue on Saturday as the Highlanders face Marist at 10 a.m., and host Lehigh at 3 p.m.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
•  Location: Leeman Turner Arena at Grace Hall (Bethlehem, Pa.)
•  Time: Coppin State – 3 p.m. | Marist – 10 a.m. (Saturday) | Lehigh – 3 p.m. (Saturday)
•  Live Stats (All Matches)
•  Live Video (Lehigh)
 
QUOTABLE
"Opening weekend is always hit or miss since you don't really know your team or your opponent. We are hoping that our starting point is a good one to build on throughout the year. You don't win or lose a championship this weekend; you identify weaknesses and work to get better so by November you give yourself a chance." – Volleyball head coach, Marci Jenkins.
 
HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
•  Radford looks to carry the momentum of a 20-plus win campaign in 2016 that included a Big South Conference regular season championship.
•  Last season, the Highlanders accumulated 24 wins with a perfect 11-0 record at Dedmon.
•  Radford returns five starters, including two named to the Preseason All-Big South Team.
•  Senior Maddie Palmer was named Big South Preseason Player of the Year, after she led the Big South in three categories last season.
•  Palmer tallied 495 kills, 47 service aces and 568 points. She was also top-20 in the country in kills per set, points per set, total points, and total kills
•  Picked to finish second in the Big South, the Highlanders have 11 players returning from the 2016 squad.
•  Radford brings in six newcomers, including five true freshmen and one sophomore transfer.
•  Leading the Big South in four categories as a team in 2016, the Highlanders look to lead more this season. The team totaled a .228 hitting percentage, 12.75 assists per match, 1.50 service aces per match and held opponents to a .164 hitting percentage.
 
SCOUTING COPPIN STATE
•  Series: Radford leads 2-0 (Last Meeting: September 4, 2009 | W, 3-0)
•  Timothy Walsh takes the team under his wings as he begins his first season as head coach for Coppin State.
•  The Eagles tallied a .102 hitting percentage, 815 assists, 877 kills, 114 total blocks last season.
•  The team recorded 13.32 digs per match, which was fourth best in the MEAC a season ago.
•  Coppin State was picked to finish sixth in the Northern Division of the MEAC.
•  Senior Guro Froberg led the team in kills last year as she recorded 210.
 
SCOUTING MARIST
•  Series: First Meeting
•  Marist went 13-17 last year, but went 7-3 in conference play and finished the season in second place in the MAAC.
•  This season, the team was picked to finish third in the MAAC and has five returning starters.
•  The Red Foxes landed two players on the Preseason All-MAAC Team in Megan Fergus and Ashton Korona.
•  Fergus tallied 294 kills, averaging 2.80 kills per set both leading the team in 2016. The sophomore totaled 53 total blocks and a .223 hitting percentage.
•  Korona led the team with 99 total blocks and was one kill shy of 200. The junior scored 260 points for her squad.
 
SCOUTING LEHIGH
•  Series: Lehigh leads 1-0 (Last Meeting: August 28, 2010 | L, 2-3)
•  Lehigh returns 12 players from a team that went 13-17, 8-8 Patriot League in 2016.
•  A few key returning players for the Mountain Hawks include setter Megan Polak, who had 8.29 assists per set and libero Emily Develle, averaging 4.23 digs per set last season.
•  Lehigh was picked to finish fifth in the Patriot League this season.
•  Returning for her sophomore season is Julia Pressly, who led the team with 205 kills.
•  Kelly Bennett played 102 sets in 2016 and led the team with a .314 hitting percentage.

UP NEXT
Following the Lehigh Fall Classic, the Highlanders travel out west to compete in the Wildcat Classic hosted by Arizona beginning Friday, Sept. 1. Teams competing in the tournament include; Grand Canyon, Eastern Kentucky and No. 24 Arizona.
 
For the latest on Radford Athletics, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Highlander Happenings.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Maddie Palmer

#20 Maddie Palmer

OH
6' 0"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Maddie Palmer

#20 Maddie Palmer

6' 0"
Senior
OH