RADFORD, Va.—The Radford volleyball team hosted High Point in a Big South Conference rematch Friday night in the Dedmon Center. The Highlander's explosive opening set was not enough in the four-set bout versus the Panthers, falling 3-1. 
 
SET ONE 
Setting the tone early was Jordan Coomes who tabbed the first kill of the night. Her teammates followed suit with a kill from Esmadar Tavares, a block assist from Stephanie Neast and Mackenzie Meehan, in addition to a pair of High Point miscues.  
 
The Panthers battled back into the set and retook the lead for a short period of time until Samantha Reitz posted her kill to tie the set at 21 all. Reigning Big South Conference Freshman of the Week, Hailey Flowers, added a kill of her own to increase the lead by one. The Panthers would tie it up but Kennedi Johnson broke the tie at 23. A block by Johnson and Neast as well as a kill by Neast, walled off High Point at 25-23. 
 
SET TWO
The Panthers got out on a run to lead by a margin of eight, until a Johnson kill broke their stride. High Point proceeded to tack on additional points until Radford's four-point rally to bring the deficit to five, 17-12. Johnson served as the catalyst notching a block solo which led to a Meehan kill. The Highlanders offense kept rolling with a Johnson ace, followed by a block assist from Meehan and Neast. With the momentum favoring Radford, High Point calls a timeout.
 
 The block party continued in this set, as the Highlanders posted two more from Meehan, Neat, Coomes, and Johnson. However, the Panthers would reach 25 to their 17. 
 
SET THREE
The opening moments of this set were unlike the others, as the lead bounced back-and-forth. Meehan and Goodman would not let their team fall behind as they notched a kill each to bring the Highlanders within four. At the media timeout moments later, Radford would trail by six. 
 
High Point wasted no time exiting the timeout, posting a pair of kills. Radford fought back with their defense causing some major issues for the Panthers. Their offense started to pick up as well, thanks to a Johnson ace which was followed by an array of Highlanders spreading the wealth. Neast, Taylor O'Neal, Flowers, and Johnson would all notch kills. Goodman tabbed the final point for Radford via a service ace. This hard-fought set would come to a close at 25-23. 
 
SET FOUR 
The two teams commenced the set trading blows, with neither able to establish a sufficient lead on the other. Big time plays were made as the Highlanders attempted to put some distance between them and the Panthers. Kills from Flowers and Neast propelled Radford into the 9-7 premature lead. 
 
The Panthers struck back with a seven-point rally to swap places for the lead, 13-9. Later in the set, the Highlanders had found themselves back in contention to potentially force a fifth set. Goodman initiated this rally with back-to-back kills. A High Point attack error combined with another Goodman kill brought Radford within stricking distance at 22-21. 
 
Moments later a big-time block assist via Neast and Mallory McKnight kept the Highlanders in the game, only trailing by one at 24-23. But, a Panther kill would seal the set and match. 
 
STAT OF THE MATCH
Four Radford student-athletes posted season highs in various categories—Neast, Goodman, Johnson, and Green. Neast concluded the night with eight total blocks. Goodman notched seven points and a pair of aces. Johnson posted four kills, nine points, and two aces. Grace Green tallied 28 digs.  
 
TEAM LEADERS 
Meehan paced the offense with eight kills, and Neast was close behind at six. Johnson and Goodman tabbed a pair of aces each. Neast (8), Meehan (5), and Johnson (5) were the blocking trifecta. Maddie Lentz (16) and Coomes (15) notched double digit assists on the night. Green's aforementioned performance paired with O'Neals' 12 digs led the way for the Highlanders. 
 
UP NEXT 
Radford will play their final pair of road matches for the 2019 campaign, beginning at Hampton on Friday, November 8th at 6:00 p.m.
 
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