CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—The Radford women's volleyball team played a pair of matches on the final day of the Carolina Classic against VCU and UNC-Chapel Hill. The Highlanders were bested by the Rams and Tar Heels both in three sets. 
 
Radford 0, VCU 3
Morgan Goodman opened up the scoring in this early morning contest against in-state foe VCU. The Rams rushed past the Highlanders early on, with the deficit being as big as 12 points in favor of VCU. An offensive mishap aided in transferring the momentum to Mallory McKnight's service ace. Esmadar Tavares tallied Radford's final kill to bring the Highlander total to 13. 
 
The following set for Radford was played with better efficiency, as the back-and-forth set reached 21-15 something shifted for the Highlanders. Kennedi Johnson initiated the morale increasing rally, which was quickly picked up on by fellow teammate Hailey Flowers. Daria Burrows' kill was paired with high level defense to bring Radford within two points of VCU. 
 
Flowers opened the deciding set with the first kill. However, the set would conclude with the Rams notching 25 to the Highlanders' 15. 
 
Radford 0, UNC-Chapel Hill 3
The Tar Heels got out to a hot start and rushed out to a 7-2 early lead before the Highlanders broke their stride with an emphatic block assist from Johnson and Stephanie Neast. UNC strung together several significant rallies which accounted for their four final points. 
 
Neast set the tone for this proceeding set with a striking kill from Jordan Coomes. Those offensive bursts for the Tar Heels continued but now accustomed to the strategies, Radford implemented some of their own. Goodman swung the momentum with a kill of her own followed by a block solo from Johnson. The defensive intensity continued and caused a VCU miscue. A Flowers kill shrunk the distance between the teams to three. 
 
The Highlanders couldn't quite find their footing in the third set, with the final score being a swing of 11 points in favor VCU. 
 
UP NEXT 
Conference play will begin for Radford on Saturday, September 28th against High Point at 2:00 p.m. 
 
Grace Green was named to the All-Tournament team. She played in 10 sets, tallied seven assists, and 36 digs. 
 
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