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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
team
Taylor Blue
2
Presbyterian Presb 1-4,1-4 Big South
3
Winner Radford Rad 3-2,3-2 Big South
Presbyterian Presb
1-4,1-4 Big South
2
Final
3
Radford Rad
3-2,3-2 Big South
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Presbyterian Presb 25 25 20 10 10 (2)
Radford Rad 17 17 25 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Highlanders Flip Deficit to Take Series Opener from Blue Hose

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford (3-2, 3-2 BSC) volleyball team battled back to take the series opener from Presbyterian (1-4, 1-4 BSC) on Saturday night in the Dedmon Center. The Highlanders flipped an early 0-2 deficit to force their first five set bout of the season. 
 
After what appeared to be a forgone conclusion with Presbyterian up two sets to none, Radford's third stanza set the tone for what was to come. 
 
Set Three
The points came in threes to commence third set with back-to-back aces for Maddie Lentz and a kill from Hailey Flowers. The Blue Hose responded with their first pair of points in the set but a kill from Daria Burrows ignited a 6-0 rally in favor of the home team. The Highlanders never looked back and furthermore, never trailed in the set. 
 
Presbyterian attempted a rally in the final moments of the set, tacking on four points to come within striking distance. But an attack error would give Radford the point needed to take its first set of the contest at 25-20. The overall lead still favored the Blue Hose 2-1, but not for long.
 
Set Four
The Highlanders struck first in this set as well thanks to a miscue from the opposition and a Flowers kill. The teams went point-for-point for the most part until Raella Papes' strike commenced a seven-point swing for Radford, 17-7. 
 
The Blue Hose were unable to draw any real momentum and the home team added five more points to their cause. With the Highlander lead now at 22-8, Flowers and Samantha Reitz notched kills to push the deficit to 14 points. Yet another Presbyterian mishap sealed the set for Radford at 25-10. 
 
The Highlanders had now evened out the contest to two sets each, forcing a winner take all fifth set, the first for Radford this season. 
 
Set Five
Keep with the current theme, the Highlanders raced out to a 3-0 start and added their points in bunches. The next rally found Flowers yet again for the kill, with Taylor O'Neal seeing action, and ending with a booming strike from Flowers to make the lead 8-2. 
 
Taylor O'Neal found the sweet spot on the other side of the net, a block assist from Papers and Reitz shut down the Blue Hose offense, and an ace from Grace Green propelled the lead out to 12-5. Presbyterian responded with five points but a service error would halt their would-be comeback and see Radford victorious at 15-10. 
 
Stat of The Game
The last time the Highlanders reversed an 0-2 deficit to win the match was September 15, 2017 against ETSU. 
 
Highlander Highlight
Flowers established a new career-high for herself in kills at 16 and 19 points. She also tied her career-highs with a pair of aces and nine digs.
 
Team Leaders 
The aforementioned offensive output from Flowers paced the Highlanders. Lentz served up several aces, Reitz held down the defensive front with five blocks, and freshman Shelby Hernandez anchored the court with 23 digs to serve as her career-high. Lentz also dished out 32 assists on the night. 
 
Tweet of The Game 
 
 
Up Next 
Radford concludes the series versus Presbyterian on Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
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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