RADFORD, Va.—The Radford volleyball (3-3) team took on Fordham (4-2) and Rider (2-6) on day two of the 2019 Radford Invitational. The Highlanders posted a split decision on the day taking the first matchup versus Fordham but falling just short in the proceeding contest against Rider.
Radford 3, Fordham 1
The Highlanders notched their third victory of the young 2019 season with a hard-fought battle versus the Rams of Fordham. Fordham posted the first kill of the match, but Radford responded with a run fueled by some great offensive and defensive possessions. A pair of service aces from
Maddie Lentz put the Highlanders up 6-1 over the Rams. The teams kept up with one another point for point down the stretch, but Radford inched closer and closer to Fordham. The Highlanders tied the first set at 25 all but a few miscues allowed the Rams to take the first set 27-25.
Set two was very reflective of the one before, with athletic plays made on both sides of the net. The biggest margin between the teams would not exceed four points. A Fordham kill later in the set, paused the game at 23 all. However,
Jordan Coomes and
Daria Burrows put the final touches on the set to close the opportunity for the Rams to mount a comeback, at 25-23.
Radford battled their way back into the third set after falling behind in the early goings.
Mallory McKnight's kill would kickstart a rally for the Highlanders to be followed by two kills, several Rams errors, and a service ace by McKnight. This offensive demonstration forced a Fordham timeout. Two more missteps for the Rams shifted the momentum in favor of the Highlanders.
Mackenzie Meehan,
Login Williams, McKnight, and Burrows all played their parts perfectly in wrapping up the set 25-21.
Fittingly enough, the fourth set matched the others in a truly thrilling fashion. The teams traded points with one another, playing so tightly the set went tick-for-tack even down to the final deciding moments. After the 12th point, Fordham mounted a run to prematurely take the lead at 15-12. A few moments later Radford responded with a rally of their own tying the set at 19 all. Exchanging the lead and momentum the teams stayed within two points of one another after hitting 21 points. However, a pair of late kills from
Stephanie Neast in combination with a Rams gaffe propelled the Highlanders to a 28-26 victory.
TEAM LEADERS
In her third game posting 10 or more kills, Neast concluded the contest with 16 total. Coomes tallied her fifth game with double digit assists and her third game of the season with 20-plus assists in a game. Lastly,
Taylor O'Neal led the team with 17 digs in her second consecutive game with 17 digs.
TWEET OF THE MATCH
Radford 0, Rider 3
The first set started off with a Rider rally, stretching out in front of Radford until the Highlanders responded taking the lead back at 6-4. This conversation between the teams continued in pursuit of 25 points, until the Broncs tied the game at 23. Rider solidified the set win with a service ace at 25-23.
Radford stayed in front of Rider but the back-and-forth continued, however a three point swing allowed the Broncs' hopes to remain alive. An attack error in addition to a
Grace Green service ace threatened Riders thoughts of closing the set. The Broncs capped the set with a pair of kills, distancing themselves from the Highlanders at 26-24.
It was pretty much Rider in the final set, with the Broncs hitting .255 in addition to posting 16 kills. Radford's rallies allowed them to stay in contention but fell behind eight points.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will travel to Philadelphia, Pa. to compete in the Temple Tournament on September 13-14. Radford will face host Temple, Lehigh, and Columbia.
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