Volleyball 9/6/2018 3:48:00 PM

PENN INVITATIONAL NEXT ON DOCKET FOR VOLLEYBALL

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RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's volleyball team once again makes its way north, this time to play in Penn's Valley Forge Sports Invitational this weekend. The Highlanders will take on Saint Francis (Pa.) at 3 p.m. and Penn at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7 before going head-to-head with Lehigh on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 1:30 p.m.

SETTING THE STAGE
Tournament: Valley Forge Sports Invitational
Host: Penn Quakers
Location: Philadelphia, Penn.
Game One vs. Saint Francis: Live Stats
Game Two vs. Penn: Live Stats | Watch
Game Three vs. Lehigh: Live Stats

ABOUT THE MATCH-UPS
Radford has played Saint Francis, Penn and Lehigh a combined seven times in program history with a combined record of 4-3. The Highlanders are 2-0 against the Red Flash, 1-2 against the Quakers and 1-1 against the Mountain Hawks.

LAST TIME OUT
Radford's last foray onto the court came in Cape Girardeau, Mo. at the Redhawks Invitational. The team suffered its first loss of the year to Northwestern State, but bounced back with a pair of sweeps against Southeast Missouri and Louisiana Monroe. Junior Mallory McKnight looked strong on offense, collecting 33.5 points and 29 kills on the weekend. Senior Haley Kleespies was solid defensively as well, finishing the weekend with 99 assists, 21 digs, seven service aces and three total blocks.

RECORDS WATCH
Haley Kleespies moved into second place on the all-time career assist with 3,495 career assists in the season-opening Baltimore Bash. The senior is now just 60 assists away from setting the all-time school record in the rally scoring era.

SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS (PA)
For the second consecutive season, the Red Flash were picked to finish sixth in the Northeast Conference preseason poll. SFU showed major improvement in Sara McMullen's second season in Loretto with a 12-15 (6-8 NEC) record, but are 0-8 to begin the 2018 campaign. The big challenge the team has faced is replacing reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year Jenna Veres who was lost to graduation. A nine-member freshman class is key to the Red Flash finding their way and picking up some victories this season.

SCOUTING PENN
At 2-2 through four games played, the Quakers' season is just getting started. The Ivy League preseason poll tabbed Penn to finish fifth after putting together a 12-11 (7-7) record a season ago. Sophomore Raven Sulaimon leads the team with 40 kills (3.08 kills per set) while senior Taylor Cooper carries an impressive .426 hitting percentage.

SCOUTING LEHIGH
Coming off Patriot League Tournament berths in six of the last seven seasons, Lehigh was picked to finish second in the conference preseason poll. They're living up to that billing thus far thanks to a perfect 7-0 record on the season. The Mountain Hawks are led by junior Ana Spangenberg who was a First Team All-Patriot League member in 2017 and made the preseason All-Patriot League Team in 2018. Fellow juniors Emily Poole and Lauren Bright will be ones to watch as well, as the duo ranks second and third in the conference with hitting percentages of .423 and .416.

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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