Volleyball 11/8/2019 8:57:00 PM

COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AT HAMPTON

BOX SCORE HAMPTON, Va.—The Radford volleyball team hit the road for a match against Hampton which went the full five sets after Radford trailed 2-0. The team was unable to complete the comeback however, dropping the match late.

SET ONE
The Highlanders opened up the first set of the night on a 3-1 run courtesy of two kills by Stephanie Neast. After Hampton tied it back up, the two teams battled each other exchanging points up until the media timeout. After that, the Lady Pirates took control with six unanswered points. It was a lead Hampton would never give up, as they took the first set 25-18.

Radford benefited from four attack errors by Hampton, but they fell behind only hitting .152 for the set. With 10 kills as a team, Mackenzie Meehan helped pace the way with three kills.

SET TWO
In the second set of the night it was Hampton who jumped out to a 3-1 lead before Radford went on a run to equalize it. The two teams stuck with the trend of trading points. Five attack errors cursed the Highlanders halfway through the set allowing Hampton to grow its advantage to six points, eventually finishing the set 25-18. Radford did notch three service aces in the set, with Jordan Coomes, Mallory McKnight, and Taylor O'Neal all contributing one ace each.

SET THREE
The tides finally turned in the Highlanders' favor for the third set, as a 6-1 run supplied by multiple kills from Neast and Esmadar Tavares. The Highlanders never looked back refusing to let up. Tavares added another ace to the run, with Goodman adding some kills of her own to make the lead 15-11 at the media timeout.

Radford finished the set on a 6-0 run, working off Hampton's errors. Coomes' helped seal the set with a kill, while an attack error sealed the set. With only three attack errors in the entire set, the Highlanders played clean ball for the set victory.

SET FOUR
The comeback was real as the Highlanders came out with fire to grab a 6-2 lead. Back to back service aces by Coomes helped grow the lead, and more kills by Neast helped them hold onto it. With a six-point lead at the media timeout, Radford was in full control. Morgan Goodman added three kills while Flowers added two of her own late in the set to grab the fourth set and force a fifth set finale.

SET FIVE
After two dominant sets by the Highlanders, the back and forth match up returned. The two teams tied each other up at nine, but a three-point swing for Hampton wound up being rough for the comeback attempt. Flowers and McKnight added kills to add to their totals, but it wouldn't be enough as Hampton would steal the final set 15-11 and win the match.

STAT OF THE MATCH
Radford racked up 16 block assists on the night, compared to just six for Hampton. McKnight led the team with six, while Tavares wasn't far behind with four of her own.

TEAM LEADERS
Two Highlanders reached double-digit kills, with Neast leading the team with 15. Goodman had a stellar night with 11, and Tavares wasn't far behind with nine. Grace Green was great keeping the ball off the floor with 28 digs, while Coomes was the assisting hand with 27 assists.

UP NEXT
Radford will travel to Buies Creek to face Campbell for the final road game of the regular season.

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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Players Mentioned

#7 Jordan Coomes: S; 5' 10"; Junior

#18 Grace Green: DS/L; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#9 Mallory McKnight: MB; 5' 10"; Senior

#19 Stephanie Neast: RS; 6' 0"; Senior

#2 Taylor O'Neal: OH/DS; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#4 Mackenzie Meehan: MB/OH; 6' 1"; Freshman

#20 Morgan Goodman: OH; 5' 10"; Senior

#14 Esmadar Tavares: OH; Junior

Players Mentioned

#7 Jordan Coomes
: 5' 10"; Junior
: S

#18 Grace Green
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: DS/L

#9 Mallory McKnight
: 5' 10"; Senior
: MB

#19 Stephanie Neast
: 6' 0"; Senior
: RS

#2 Taylor O'Neal
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: OH/DS

#4 Mackenzie Meehan
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: MB/OH

#20 Morgan Goodman
: 5' 10"; Senior
: OH

#14 Esmadar Tavares
: Junior
: OH