CLINTON, S.C.—The Radford volleyball team continued their four-game road trip, this time making a stop to take on Presbyterian. In their fifth Big South matchup of the 2019 campaign, the Highlanders fell to the Blue Hose in three sets. 
 
SET ONE
Stephanie Neast, Esmadar Tavares, and Mackenzie Meehan were the trio who notched initial kills for Radford. The later bringing the Highlanders within four of the Blue Hose at 10-6. Presbyterian then mounted a small rally to increase their lead to 14. 
 
Down but not out, Radford echoed with a rally of their own with Meehan leading the way with a kill set up by Maddie Lentz. She followed her first kill with another, while Hailey Flowers and Neast adding kills of their own. The Presbyterian lead had now been cut to two. 
 
The Blue Hose stretched their lead to 25 with a series of two to three-point rallies. A kill from Tavares would pause the Presbyterian run but to no avail as a kill and ace would seal the set at 25-18. 
 
SET TWO
The Highlanders weren't able to find their footing in the opening moments, with the Blue Hose getting out to a 9-3 lead. Offense came at a premium with kills coming from Neast, Lentz, Meehan (two), Mallory McKnight (two), Flowers, Samantha Reitz, and Jordan Coomes. Taylor O'Neal contributed in a huge way, swinging the momentum in favor of Radford with a service ace. 
 
The Highlanders were active on the defensive end as well. Meehan, Reitz, and Neast hosted the block party for Radford.
 
Coomes' kill positioned the Highlanders at 19t points, but a bad set from Radford allowed the Blue Hose to reach 25 first. 
 
SET THREE
A red-hot start for Presbyterian was followed by several significant rallies which allowed the Blue Hose to hit the 20-point mark moments after Radford's 11th point. 
 
The Highlanders wouldn't be silenced that easy. After Neast pushed to the 11th point, Coomes followed suit with a kill of her own to keep her team in it. Reitz tacked on one herself, followed by several kills via Kennedi Johnson to get the Radford total to 16. 
 
The Highlanders had battled back into the match but were kept at bay by the Blue Hose, who finished the match with a kill.
 
STAT OF THE MATCH
Hitting percentage for Radford's Johnson and Meehan led all at .800 and .667.
 
TEAM LEADERS
Neast led the offensive charge for the Highlanders at six kills. O'Neal tallied the solo service ace for Radford on the evening. Meehan led both teams in blocks with several. Lentz paced her team with 18 assists while Grace Green posted eight digs. 
 
UP NEXT 
For the third game of this road trip, Radford will travel to Boiling Springs, N.C. to take on Gardner-Webb Friday, Oct. 18th at 6:00 p.m.
 
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