Volleyball 8/29/2019 5:06:00 PM

VOLLEYBALL KICKS OFF 2019 SEASON AT BARCELONA SPORTS INVITATIONAL

HOUSTON, Texas – The Radford women's volleyball team opens the 2019 season in Houston at the Barcelona Sports Invitational hosted by Houston Baptist. The two-day tournament features matches against UTRGV on Friday at 11 a.m. ET, and Houston Baptist later that evening at 7:30 p.m. ET. Radford wraps up opening weekend play with Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at 1 p.m.

ABOUT THE MATCHUPS
Radford will meet UTRGV, Houston Baptist and Bethune-Cookman for the first time in program history.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
Radford posted a 22-7 record last year and picked up its first major postseason victory in program history with a 3-1 win over Appalachian State in the NIVC. The Highlanders also notched 12 wins in Big South play and finished runners-up in the Big South Tournament. Radford has a pair of highly touted seniors returning in Mallory McKnight and Stephanie Neast, both Preseason All-Big South selections. McKnight led the 2018 squad with 303 kills, just under 3.00 per set. She also recorded a .349 attack percentage, which ranked second in the conference. McKnight also led the Highlanders with 91.0 blocks. Her blocks, kills and service aces equaled a team-high 371.0 total points for the season. Right behind McKnight was Neast, who was second on the team with 282 kills. She posted a .279 attack percentage and 58.0 total blocks. The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native also notched 14 double-figure kill matches a season ago. Radford has nine newcomers along with 10 letterwinners poised for a great 2019 season.

ABOUT UTRGV
UTRGV is the defending Western Athletic Conference (WAC) champion but has been picked to tie for fourth this season. UTRGV broke a number of NCAA Division I program records, wins (22), winning percentage (.710), road wins (9), conference wins (13), conference winning percentage (.813), and conference road wins (6). UTRGV also tied records for home wins (11) and conference home wins (7) in 2018. UTRGV is led by senior right-side hitter Barbara Silva, a preseason all-WAC selection.

ABOUT HOUSTON BAPTIST
The Huskies return 12 letterwinners, including four starters, their starting libero and a pair of seniors from last year's squad, which finished 16-16 overall, tied for fifth in the Southland Conference with an 8-8 record and advanced to the tournament semifinals.
Junior outside hitter Mikayla Vivens was a first-team all-conference selection, made the all-tournament team and led the league in double-doubles. She was joined on the preseason all-conference team by junior middle blocker Megan Patillo and sophomore outside hitter Kelly Colwell.

ABOUT BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Bethune-Cookman has been picked to tie for first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and are led by preseason all-conference pick junior outside hitter Jordan Jefferson. The Wildcats went 16-16 last season but finished 7-3 in the MEAC. BCU tallied 11.1 kills per set last season and was led by Jordan Jefferson with 397 digs and 464 kills. Jefferson returns for her junior 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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

Players Mentioned

#9 Mallory McKnight

#19 Stephanie Neast

Players Mentioned

#9 Mallory McKnight

#19 Stephanie Neast