Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team dropped its third conference match of the season by falling to the Radford Highlanders in five sets (15-25, 25-16, 25-22, 18-25, 15-12) on Friday night at the Dedmon Center.

The loss drops the Eagles to 10-12 overall and 7-3 in the conference, as Radford improves to 8-15 on the year and 2-7 in the Big South.

Leading the Eagles was senior outside hitter Kaley Viola with her twelve double-double of the year. Viola finished the night with 19 kills and 13 digs. Behind Viola in kills was junior middle hitter Becca Toor with 18. Four Winthrop players ended the night with double-digit digs as senior libeiro Kelsey Harrison led the team with 20, sophomore defensive specialist Kristin Cruse posted 15, Viola was next with her 13 and senior setter Kelsey Hall totaled 11. Hall also served up 53 assists.

The Eagles finished the night with 66 kills, 81 digs and an attacking percentage of.166.

In the opening set, Winthrop cruised as the Eagles posted 13 kills and finished the set a .310 attacking percentage. Winthrop took the set 25-15. Viola finished the first set with five kills and .500 attacking percentage. Freshman defensive specialist Carly DeBruhl ended the set with five digs.

The second set saw both teams trade points to the 13-13 mark. Radford was first to make a run as the Highlanders closed out the set with a 12-3 run, winning the second set 25-16. Radford closed out the second set with a .321 attacking percentage. Toor posted six kills within the set.

“We had to control our side better.” Head coach Sally Polhamus said. 

In the third set, the Eagles jumped out quickly, starting the set with a 4-0 lead. The Highlanders then clawed back, tying the set early at 9-9. From that point, Radford opened up its lead to 17-12. Winthrop fought back and tied the set at the 22-22 mark. Despite the late run by the Eagles, the Highlanders took the last three points, taking the set 25-22.

In the fourth set, the teams traded points early again, this time to the 12-12 mark. Winthrop was first to make a run in this set, as the Eagles went on a 13-6 run to win the set 25-18.

The Highlanders started the final set strong, jumping out to a 7-3 lead. Winthrop made a late charge, going down one at the 13-12 mark. A kill from Radford's Laura Waddell and an ace from Storm Melnick gave the Highlanders the set 15-12 and the match.

“We made too many unforced errors,” Polhamus said. “We did not finish in the fifth set and have to execute at a higher level.”

Leading Radford were Waddell with 13 kills and Carly Fleming with a .421 hitting percentage. Katelyn Meeks posted 20 digs, leading the Highlanders in the category. Radford closed out the night with 49 kills, 71 digs and a .166 attacking percentage.

The Eagles will be back on the court Saturday, Oct. 23 as they travel to High Point. That match is set for 2 p.m. As for the Highlanders, they will remain at home on Oct. 23 as they play host to Charleston Southern.