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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
OliviaRyno
Ethan Neal
2
Winthrop Win 8-5,2-1 Big South
3
Winner Radford Rad 5-12,1-2 Big South
Winthrop Win
8-5,2-1 Big South
2
Final
3
Radford Rad
5-12,1-2 Big South
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Winthrop Win 26 25 25 20 10 (2)
Radford Rad 28 23 21 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Ryno’s Elite Showing Helps Radford to Electric Win Over Winthrop

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford volleyball program earned a thrilling 3-2 victory over Winthrop Saturday afternoon guided an incredible offensive performance highlighted by Olivia Ryno's career-best 22 kills.
 
KEY STATS
  • Ryno's aforementioned 22 kills beat her previous high of 16 set earlier this season. Her impressive .386 hitting percentage also led all players in the match.
  • After a rough evening on Friday Radford's offense bounced back in a big way, committing just 18 errors over five sets, good for a clean .300 team attack percentage.
  • Taryn Roberts flirted with a double-double recording eight kills and seven block assists.
  • Jackeline Nerro and Lea Gage combined for 50 assists, with Nerro earning the double-double adding 10 digs on the defensive end.
  • The 66 kills, 22 block assists, and 87 points were all season highs.
  • The victory snaps an 11-match losing streak to the Eagles, marking Radford's first win over Winthrop since 2018.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
The opening set of Saturday's match was one to set the tone for the afternoon. With Winthrop coming off a thrilling 3-2 upset on the road at High Point just the night before, Radford was tasked early with a difficult challenge. The Eagles came out hot with four of their first six points coming off kills to go up 8-4.
 
Radford's attack would come from a tandem early as Rylee Sloss, Aubrey Hatch, Ryno and Roberts all added kills early. Able to pull the match back into a 19-19 tie thanks to a kill from Sloss, Radford and Winthrop would trade points the rest of the way. Down 26-25, Radford rallied and three straight with two blocks to take a thrilling 28-26 set one victory.
 
The second set was once again an even affair, as have most of Radford's sets been as of late coming into the match. Coming down to the final two points, the second set was defined by a more balanced serving attack from both ends and sharp hitting from the Highlanders. Only committing four errors to the Eagles' seven, an unfortunate late rally gave Winthrop the edge they needed to take set two 25-23.
 
After an even start to set three, the Highlanders were forced to play from behind after a 6-0 run by Winthrop. Some aces and a kill from Gage kept Radford from slipping away too far. Kills from Ryno, Roberts and Sloss had the set tied back up at 19-all. Miller helped Radford pull briefly ahead 20-19, but the Eagles scored six of the next seven points to take set three 25-21.
 
Now down 2-1 in the match, Radford needed a quick response and got it with kills from Ryno, Roberts and Nerro to climb ahead 4-3. Both teams were back to deadlocked until Hatch got a big kill at the media timeout to put Radford up 15-12. The offense continued to lean on Ryno who picked up two kills that gave Radford one of its biggest leads of the day 22-17. After a brief run by the Eagles, the Highlanders were able to force the fifth set thanks to one more kill from Ryno taking set four 25-20.
 
The Highlanders did not look phased or winded in the fifth set, used to the occasion after a 3-2 win over Elon last weekend. Ryno ignited the offense, going off for five kills that helped Radford build a 8-4 advantage. A 4-2 run by the Eagles forced Radford to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Radford reestablished their lead 13-9. Like she did all set, Ryno blasted a kill to help seal the deal and an error ended the set in Radford's favor 15-10 and 3-2 overall in the match final.
 
UP NEXT
Radford will stick to the homecourt for next weekend's Homecoming celebration. Action begins on Friday, October 10th at 4 p.m. against Presbyterian. The earlier start will allow fans to get to Kyle Hall on Radford University's campus in time for program alumnus Rachel Wiechecki's induction into the Radford Hall of Fame.

STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD VOLLEYBALL
For all the latest on Radford Volleyball, be sure to follow the team on X (@RadfordVB), Instagram (@radfordvb), and "like" the team's official Facebook Page (Radford Volleyball).
 
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