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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Team Handshake
1
Radford RAD 6-13, 2-5 Big South
3
Winner WINTHROP WINTHROP 15-4, 7-0 Big South
Radford RAD
6-13, 2-5 Big South
1
Final
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WINTHROP WINTHROP
15-4, 7-0 Big South
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Radford RAD 22 21 25 9 (1)
WINTHROP WINTHROP 25 25 16 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

THIRD SET COMEBACK FALLS JUST SHORT IN ROAD MATCH AT WINTHROP

ROCK HILL, S.C.—A late comeback came up short for the Highlanders Saturday afternoon, against an unbeaten Winthrop 3-1.

SET ONE
A 5-0 start to set one was a tough hill to climb for Radford but kills by Hailey Flowers and Esmadar Taveras slowed down Winthrop and got Radford back on track. The two squads would continue to trade points with each other throughout the set as neither side put together an extended rally.

Halfway through the set, junior Maddie Lentz recorded back-to-back aces to pull Radford within four points of Winthrop. A kill by Flowers and Samantha Reitz shortened it to just a two-point deficit at 16-18, where the deficit would remain until Winthrop pulled it out in the end of the set 25-22.

SET TWO
The match didn't slow down from there as Winthrop came out hot in the second set to create and 11-4 lead. The set seemed all but out of reach until the Highlanders went on a 7-1 run to tighten up the set at 23-20. After trading points with each other, Winthrop pulled it out late for a 25-21 second set victory.

Senior Stephanie Neast paced the Highlanders in the second set with three kills including a solo block and a block assists with teammate Kennedi Johnson. Reitz would also add two kills to her total of 10 in the match which was fourth most between both teams.

SET THREE
Going into the third set, Radford started to mount a comeback. Three kills in a row by Mackenzie Meehan, Neast, and Taveras got the set rolling early on for Radford giving them an 8-4 advantage and forcing Winthrop to take a timeout. Reitz and Jordan Coomes joined in with kills of their own as Radford started to cruise to their match-best 18 team kills. Overall in the set the team hit a booming .485 attack percentage which was also a match best.

With the score at 18-15, Radford didn't look back as they went on a 7-1 run to close out the third set and extend the match. Reitz's fourth kill of the set sealed it for the Highlanders with a final third set score of 25-16.

SET FOUR
Like the first set, a 5-0 run by Winthrop opened the set and forced a Radford timeout. Winthrop held control of the entire set, eventually winning the fourth set 25-9 and sealing the match.

STAT OF THE MATCH
Reitz's 10 kills were a season-high, as she also boasted a .250 hitting percentage which was second best on the team among players with more than five total attacks. Her three digs also tied a season-high at three.
 
TEAM LEADERS
Neast led the team with 11 kills, nearly doubling her total against Gardner-Webb the night before. Grace Green continued to lead the team in digs, recording 13 on the day with Lentz not far behind with seven. Johnson also led the team with total blocks, totaling three throughout the match.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will return home for three straight games at the Dedmon Center, hosting USC Upstate and UNC Asheville next weekend along with an end-of the week matchup against High Point the Friday after that.
 
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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