Highlanders Fall in Tight Four Sets at Winthrop

Saturday, November 7

Rock Hill, SC

5:00 PM

Radford University

14-13,8-5Big South

Winthrop

15-7,11-2Big South

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Radford	23	29	21	23	1
Winthrop	25	27	25	25	3

Photo by: Matthew Maldonado

11/7/2026 7:40:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Radford volleyball program had another close affair Saturday night but ultimately came up short in the 3-1 finish at Winthrop.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Maja Bochenek had a big night as Radford's most reliable hitter blowing past her previous career high for kills in a match with 18 on just 26 attempts which was good for an incredible .654 hitting percentage. That percentage ranks seventh best in program history for a single match, with a minimum of 20 total attempts.
Bochenek added on six total blocks to that showing while Aubrey Hatch and Taryn Roberts combined for nine as Radford out blocked Winthrop 10-6.
Macie Potter flirted with her single match high for digs with 19, tying for the team lead with Mia Jannazzo who also had 19.
Lea Gage just missed a double-double with 21 assists and nine digs, teaming up with Alyssa Cadavid who also finished with 21 assists.
While Radford conceded 14 aces to Winthrop, the most by a Highlanders' opponent this season, the Eagles also racked up 12 service errors to Radford's six.

THE BREAKDOWN
With the slow start for both squads, it was Radford who had a lead early playing more clean as Bochenek, Potter and Ela Shepherd all tallied kills for the 8-3 edge. An 8-1 run by the Eagles flipped the set back in their favor as the two squads would trade points to the media break. Radford rolled through that break on a 5-0 run of their own, but Winthrop responded in kind once again to tie the set at 20-20. Taryn Roberts and Potter would earn a block while Potter added one more kill, but the set ultimately fell to the Eagles 25-23.

Set two played much closer and ended in a wild finish. Radford would lead 15-12 thanks to the play of Bochenek and Potter, but Winthrop finished on another late tear to go up 24-20. Radford didn't go away quietly, storming back with five straight points to not just extend the set but take a lead. Bochenek, Potter and Aubrey Hatch all had kills in the run while Potter and Roberts put things away late as Radford pulled of the improbable comeback 29-27 to even the match.

Bochenek kept firing into set three for Radford as the Highlanders played more clean through the opening points for another slim 10-8 lead. A long Winthrop run returned that lead to the hosts, though, as Radford slowly slipped to a 20-13 deficit. Kills from Hatch, Olivia Ryno, Potter and Bochenek helped Radford claw some of that back, but Winthrop held on to take the set 25-20 and go ahead 2-1.

Looking to extend the match, Radford kept working in set four. Hatch added blocks and kills early as neither team pulled far away from the other up until Winthrop took a slim 12-9 advantage. Roberts would add a kill to pull closer, but the Eagles stormed ahead for an 18-12 lead that seemed to put things away. As they had done in the first three sets, Radford refused to go away. Ryno, Bochenek and Katrina Miller combined for four kills late and Julia Murdy served up an ace to tie the set at 21-21 and briefly go ahead 22-21. Winthrop bounced back, unfortunately, and scored four of the last five points of the match to stave off a fifth set 25-23 and take the match 3-1.

UP NEXT
The regular season finale awaits the Highlanders as they host High Point next Friday, November 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the Dedmon Center. The match will also be senior day for Radford and the team encourages everyone coming to wear red for a red-out.

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).

#RiseAndDefend