TOWSON, Md. – The Radford volleyball team proved that this year's edition of the program is not one to be overlooked as it defeated Rutgers, 3-2, for the program's second-ever win over a Big Ten school.
 
RADFORD vs. RUTGERS RECAP
An all-around team effort on the offensive and defensive ends of the court allowed Radford to earn a statement win against a Power 5 opponent.
 
Crystal Childs went off for the second time this season, posting 19 kills and only five errors for a .350 hitting percentage. She also provided an assist, a block assist, and was second on the squad with 16 digs.
 
Taylor Jefferson and Grace Tulevech each contributed 10 kills while Sophie Paspal added nine and Tori Britton put up seven more of her own. Britton also dominated on defense, getting above the net for nine block assists.
 
The Highlanders knew they were capable of winning this match and came out firing on all cylinders, recording 15 kills on a .407 hitting percentage in a 25-20 first set win. The Scarlet Knights struck back however, taking the second set by the score of 25-19 to even the match.
 
The third set went much more as planned, with Radford taking a 2-1 lead in the match after topping Rutgers, 25-18. The Highlanders hit .300 in the frame, matching the first set with a game-high 15 kills once again. They also stepped up their game on the defensive side, posting a single set season-best of 23 digs and six block assists.
 
Rutgers avoided defeat in the fourth set, but simply put off the inevitable as the Highlanders refused to be beaten. Radford's fifth-set lead grew to as much as seven points before the Scarlet Knights finally clawed their way back in to make it somewhat close before finally going down.
 
KEY STATS

• This marks the second time the Radford volleyball program has defeated a current Big Ten school. The Highlanders first B1G win was a 3-2 besting of Maryland on Sept. 12, 2014 at App State's Black & Gold Challenge
• Radford notched 12 total blocks, equaling its total from three matches all of last weekend
• Sophomore Meredith Page subbed in during the second set and recorded her first career kill with her second and third career kills following soon after
• Radford finished with 60 kills (.224 H%) compared to just 48 (.127 H%) for Rutgers
• Freshmen Kennedy Robinson and Miranda Howard were each credited with a kill in the match

RADFORD vs. MORGAN STATE RECAP
The Highlanders capped off a 2-0 day with a 3-1 victory over Morgan State.
 
Ten different Radford players got on the stat sheet with at least one kill each as Sherisa Livingstone's team put together a well-rounded attack against the Bears. Sophie Paspal posted her third double-digit kill effort in five matches, leading all players with 12 kills on a .625 hitting percentage.
 
Fiona Baker a second consecutive double-double, spreading the ball around with 23 assists and 13 digs. Freshmen Jackeline Nerro spelled Baker at times, recording 10 assists to give her double-digits in the category four times in five career matches.
 
Radford asserted dominance early, taking each of the first two sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-19. The third set didn't quite go to plan though, as Morgan State snuck in a 25-17 win to stay alive in the match.
 
The Highlanders regained their form in the fourth set and cruised to a 25-16 win to clinch another victory.
 
KEY STATS

• Freshman Summer Campbell played in the first match of her career and recorded her first collegiate kill and block in the fourth set
• Fellow freshmen Sara Johnson and Peyton Ferree also made the first appearance of their collegiate careers
• Through five matches this season, Crystal Childs (52) and Sophie Paspal (50) have both reached the 50-kill mark
• Radford has earned a .177 hitting percentage compared to just .145 for opponents so far this year

UP NEXT
Radford has two more matches to play in Towson tomorrow, beginning with a 10 a.m. matinee against the host Towson Tigers. The tournament then comes to a close for the Highlanders at 4 p.m. when they square off against Princeton.
 
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