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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
MCKNIGHT
3
Winner Radford RAD 14-3, 6-2 Big South
2
Presbyterian PC 7-11, 4-3 Big South
Winner
Radford RAD
14-3, 6-2 Big South
3
Final
2
Presbyterian PC
7-11, 4-3 Big South
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Radford RAD 13 25 18 25 15 (3)
Presbyterian PC 25 22 25 20 9 (2)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

VOLLEYBALL PULLS OUT FIVE-SET COMEBACK VICTORY AT PRESBYTERIAN



CLINTON, S.C. - The Radford volleyball team pulled out a come-from-behind victory as the Highlanders defeated Big South foe Presbyterian in five sets on Saturday afternoon. Radford, who improved to 14-3 overall and 6-2 in the league, rebounded from a tough loss at Charleston Southern on Friday evening.
 
Highlander junior Mallory McKnight recorded a match-high 17 kills and committed just one error in 30 attempts for a sensational .533 hitting mark. Senior Amaya Rousseau contributed a season-high 12 kills and junior Stephanie Neast was also in double-digits with 10 winners. Sophomore Jordan Coomes tracked a team and season-high 17 digs and senior Haley Kleespies distributed 44 assists while adding 16 digs. 
 
FIRST SET
The Blue Hose jumped out to a quick start in the match as they cruised to a 25-13 opening set victory. Radford was within 7-6 early on, however, the hosts took 13 of the next 15 points to secure a 12-point cushion. The hosts enjoyed a .433 attack mark and held the visitors to just a .061 percentage. 
 
SECOND SET
Radford evened the match with a 25-22 victory, holding off Presbyterian down the final stretch. The Highlanders trailed early, 8-6, but scored three straight to claim a 9-8 advantage after an attack error by the hosts. A combined block by McKnight and freshman Kylie Tuxford widened the lead to 13-10 and Radford eventually took their largest lead of the frame at 18-13 after another hitting miscue by the Blue Hose. The hosts gave the Highlanders a scare as they were able to respond with four consecutive points to close within 18-17. Rousseau then delivered a clutch kill off an assist by Kleespies and the hosts followed with an error to hand the Highlanders a 20-17 edge. Presbyterian closed within a point three more times but Radford never surrendered the lead. Tuxford came through with a big kill that made it 24-22 and then McKnight and senior Valerie Gonzalez closed things out with a combined block.
 
THIRD SET
Presbyterian (7-11, 4-3 Big South) moved ahead in the match, 2-1, after recording a 25-18 victory in the set. A kill by freshman Taylor O'Neal brought the Highlanders within 9-8 early but the hosts went on a 5-2 spurt to widen their lead to 14-10. Radford managed to trim the deficit to 17-16 after answering with a 6-3 run, highlighted by three kills from Rousseau. However, the Blue Hose responded with four straight points and the Highlanders could never recover. 
 
FOURTH SET
Radford pulled even in the match with a 25-20 victory as they dominated most of the frame. The Highlanders exploded for a 15-5 advantage to open the set. The hosts were able to close within 20-17 but Radford rattled off four straight points to give themselves plenty of breathing room. The stretch began with a service error and redshirt freshmen Gabby Morris, Kleespies and Rousseau followed with kills. Rousseau eventually put the set away with another kill off a set-up from Kleespies.
 
FIFTH SET
The Highlanders controlled the entire fifth and deciding set as they closed out the match with a 15-9 victory. Radford scored five straight points to claim an 8-2 lead after the hosts were within a point at 3-2. McKnight contributed a pair of kills during the key run and Neast also added a winner. The Highlanders expanded their lead to as many as seven points at 11-4 after another kill by Neast. The Blue Hose managed to close within 12-9 but the Highlanders scored the final three points to close out the match. McKnight and Kleespies recorded back-to-back kills to finish the match and complete the comeback.
 
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
After trailing by as many as 10 points in the fourth set, Presbyterian closed within 20-17 and had designs on closing out the match with a comeback in the frame. Radford, however, kept their composure by ripping off four straight points and would polish off the set to force the final frame.
 
STAT OF THE MATCH
McKnight committed just one miscue on the afternoon as she pounded 17 kills on 30 attempts for a .533 hitting percentage.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will host Gardner-Webb in another Big South clash on Friday evening at Dedmon Center. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m.
 
FOLLOW VOLLEYBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the Radford volleyball team follow @RadfordVB on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Volleyball on Facebook.
 
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