BOONE, N.C. – The Radford volleyball team fell to UNCG, 3-1, in its season-opening match on Friday afternoon. It was the first action of the Appalachian State Tournament hosted by the App State Mountaineers in Boone, N.C.
Senior
Samantha Reitz got the scoring started with a kill off an assist from junior
Login Williams, but it proved difficult to keep the momentum going as the Spartans raced out to a 25-17 victory in the first set.
After a back-and-forth start to the second set, Radford fell behind 14-9 before making a huge push with a 6-0 run that retook the lead. UNCG hit back with a 6-0 run of its own and a late 4-0 comeback effort by Radford wasn't enough to avoid a 25-21 finish in favor of the Spartans.
The third set saw much more of what Head Coach
Sherisa Livingston wants from her team. The Highlanders rode a hot streak by senior
Taylor O'Neal and multiple blocks to produce a 14-2 scoring streak. The set ended 25-19, Radford's first victory of the year.
UNCG capped off the match with a controlling fourth set that included three service aces. It came to an end with the Spartans earning a 25-15 edge.
KEY STATS
- Radford had a lot of success in the air, finishing with 11 blocks compared to five for UNCG
- O'Neal and junior Hailey Flowers paced the Highlanders' attack with 11 kills apiece. O'Neal added six digs and four blocks for a well-rounded effort on the day
- Sophomore Trinity Burge tallied a team-high 21 assists and tied UNCG's Kayla White for a game-high 14 digs
- Sophomore Laila Wallace had a great showing off the bench, earning five kills on a .417 hitting percentage while adding three blocks
- Senior Grace Green smacked a pair of service aces while Flowers and senior Kennedi Johnson each had one of their own
UP NEXT
Tomorrow, Radford takes on the host of this weekend's tournament, App State, at 12:30 p.m. and then face off against Eastern Kentucky soon after at 4 p.m.
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