Volleyball 11/30/2018 9:49:00 AM

HIGHLANDERS TO MEET CLEMSON FRIDAY EVENING IN SWEET 16 OF NATIONAL INVITATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

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SETTING THE STAGE
National Invitational Volleyball Tournament: Friday, November, 30
Opponent: Clemson (Radford/Clemson winner meets Georgia Tech/College of Charleston winner)
Bracket
Where: Clemson, South Carolina (Clemson University, Jervey Gym)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Watch
Live Stats
Tickets: $8

LAST TIME OUT
The Highlanders advanced to the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) with a four-set victory over the Appalachian State Mountaineers, 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-19, on Thursday afternoon at Jervey Gym. It was Radford's first major postseason win in program history. Radford (22-6) hit a terrific .284 (57 kills, 13 errors, 155 attempts) for the match and held App State (22-9) to a .160 clip (53 kills, 27 errors, 163 attempts.

Junior middle Mallory McKnight (5 blocks) paced Radford with 16 kills as she hit an incredible .536 (1 error, 28 attempts). Classmate Stephanie Neast contributed 12 kills and senior Amaya Rousseau (9 kills, 4 blocks) was flawless as she hit .529 (0 errors, 17 attempts). Senior setter Haley Kleespies orchestrated the strong performance by dishing 46 assists to go along with two aces and four kills. Freshman Kylie Tuxford added eight kills and five blocks while senior Valerie Gonzalez contributed seven kills and 15 digs. Alyssa Carruth came up with a team-high 16 digs and added a pair of aces.

HIGHLANDER UPDATE
Radford improved to 22-6 record on the season after the win against App State. The Highlanders, who are competing in NCAA postseason play for the second straight year, will be led by their three 2018 Big South All-Conference First and Second Team performers. JR middle Mallory McKnight is third in the league in hitting percentage (.344) and is fourth in kills per set (2.92). SR setter Haley Kleespies is second on the circuit in assists per set (10.25) and leads in aces (0.48). JR outside hitter Stephanie Neast is fifth in hitting percentage (.288) and is fifth in kills (2.81). In addition, All Big South Freshman Team selection Grace Green is sixth in digs per set (4.19).

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Clemson asserted itself from the opening whistle, cruising past Alabama A&M and into the second round of the NIVC. Clemson (which hit .391 for the night) got 11 kills from Brooke Bailey, 41 assists from Gabby Easton and 17 digs from Emily Curtis…Bailey is averaging a team-best 3.34 kills per set and has 47 blocks…Easton is distributing 10.74 assists per set and has 26 aces.

FOLLOW VOLLEYBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the Radford volleyball team visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordVB on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Volleyball on Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Alyssa Carruth: DS/L; 5' 4"; Sophomore

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

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

#9 Mallory McKnight: MB; 5' 11"; Junior

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

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

#1 Kylie Tuxford: OH/DS; 5' 9"; Freshman

#18 Grace Green: DS/L; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Alyssa Carruth
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: DS/L

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

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

#9 Mallory McKnight
: 5' 11"; Junior
: MB

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

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

#1 Kylie Tuxford
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: OH/DS

#18 Grace Green
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: DS/L