KLEESPIES’ TRIPLE-DOUBLE LEADS TO FOUR SET VICTORY OVER LEHIGH

Saturday, September 8

Philadelphia, Pa.

1:30 PM

Radford University

8-1

Lehigh

8-1

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Radford	25	25	25	25	3
Lehigh	19	27	19	20	1

KLEESPIES’ TRIPLE-DOUBLE LEADS TO FOUR SET VICTORY OVER LEHIGH

9/8/2018 4:16:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – After setting a program record for career assists on Friday night, Haley Kleespies tallied her first career triple double and led the way in a four set victory (25-19, 25-27, 25-19, 25-20) over Lehigh on Saturday afternoon in the Valley Forge Sports Invitational.

Kleespies was one of five players that had double-digit kills in Saturday's match for Radford. The senior had a career-high 10 kills, while Mallory McKnight and Stephanie Neast led all players with 12. Freshman Kylie Tuxford tallied 11 and Valerie Gonzalez added 10.

SET ONE
Midway through the first set with Radford controlling a one point lead, 11-10, a Mountain Hawk attack error started an 8-2 run for the Highlanders. The run gave Radford a 19-12 lead. Lehigh made a late push, but ultimately the Highlanders claimed a 25-19 first set victory.

SET TWO
Set two had nine ties and three lead changes and went down to the wire. Radford was down to its final point of the set behind 24-21 when kills by Amaya Rousseau and Neast, along with a Lehigh attack error tied the match at 24. Each team traded a point, but two Radford errors gave Lehigh a 27-25 win.

SET THREE
Set three was close as well and had 10 ties with two lead changes, but with a 19-19 set, Radford scored six straight points to claim the set, 25-19. The Highlanders hit a match-high .483 and added 16 kills.

SET FOUR
The fourth set was neck-and-neck at 10 until Radford scored seven of the next 10 points and took a 17-13 lead. Lehigh cut the lead to as low as two, 20-18, but a Neast kill and a Lauren Bright attack error gave Radford a 22-18 lead. That lead stayed at four throughout the set until Gonzalez put the nail in the coffin with a match-clinching kill.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

END 3 | Radford 25, Lehigh 19

The 3-0 run turns into a 6-0 run that clinches the third set, 25-19. Radford hit .483 in the third set.#RiseAndDefend | #BigSouthVB
— Radford Volleyball (@RadfordVB) September 8, 2018

MOMENT THAT MATTERED
The 6-0 Radford run that closed out the third set was the turning point in the match. The 25-19 third set victory set the tone in the fourth set. The Highlanders have won every third set they've played in and are 3-2 in the fourth set.

STAT OF THE MATCH
Much like the Penn match all eyes were on Kleepsies. She picked up a career-high 10 kills, added 45 assists and totaled 12 digs. It was the first triple-double from a Highlander since 2010 when Desiree Aramburu did it as a freshman against Coastal Carolina.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kleespies, McKnight and Grace Green were all named to the all-tournament team, while Kleespies was named Valley Forge Sports Invitational MVP.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders wrap up non-conference play next weekend at the George Mason Classic. Radford will play its final doubleheader on Friday when it faces Northern Colorado at 3 p.m., and Norfolk State at 5 p.m. The Highlanders face the host, George Mason, on Saturday at 5 p.m.

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