Box Score Box Score

CHARLESTON, SC – The second-seeded Winthrop volleyball team closed out its 2011 season as the Eagles fell to third-seeded Radford in five sets (20-25, 15-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-13) Friday night at the CSU Fieldhouse.

The loss ends Winthrop's season with a 20-8 overall record, as Radford advances to the championship match against top seed Liberty with a 17-14 mark. The 20 wins is the highest win total since 2007 when the Eagles finished 20-12.

Winthrop was paced offensively by redshirt junior Brittany Blackman and senior Becca Toor who both played their final games in Winthrop uniforms. Blackman closed out the night with 17 kills and .412 hitting percentage as Toor followed her with 13 kills. As a team, the Eagle offense tallied 62 kills and a .219 hitting percentage. Defensively, Winthrop had five players finish in double-digit digs as freshman Catherine Brusie led the way with 29 on the night. Brusie finished the season with 451 digs which ranks seventh in Winthrop history. Sophomore Carly DeBruhl was behind Brusie with 18 digs and following DeBruhl was junior Kristin Cruse, sophomore Stephanie Palmer and freshman Lauren Landsman all with 15 digs. Palmer also dished out 45 of Winthrop's 58 assists as she was a kill away from her third triple-double of the season.

“We outplayed them in all aspects except serving and passing,” head coach Julie Torbett said. “It's unfortunate that we let them back into the game.”

Winthrop jumped out to a quick lead in the opening set, taking a lead at the 11-7 mark, but the Highlanders inched their way back into the set, falling behind just one point at 15-14. A kill from Toor propelled the Eagle offense as they took the set, 25-20. Toor and Blackman paced the offense with six and five kills, respectively. Blackman closed out the set with a .625 hitting percentage.

The Eagles started quickly once against in the second set only this time, the defense fed off the offense as the backline total 22 digs en route to set victory, 25-15. DeBruhl paced the defense with seven digs and Brusie followed her with five.

In the third set, Radford came out of the locker room strong, storming out to a 10-5 lead. Winthrop tried to manage a comeback late in the set, but was unable find an answer for the Radford attack, falling 25-20.

The fourth set started with the teams trading points early as the Eagles emerged with a comfortable lead at the 13-10 mark. Radford clawed itself back into the set, taking a lead at the 15-14 mark. RU never gave up that lead as the Highlanders captured the set, 25-21. Radford defense shined as it produced 21 digs and two blocks in the set.

The final set started in Radford's favor as the Highlanders took an 8-6 lead with the teams switching sides. The Highlanders controlled the rest of the set as they finished with nine kills to take the set and victory, 15-13. Radford closed out the set with nine digs and .273 hitting percentage.

“I thought the freshmen played well tonight,” Torbett said. “That's a good sign for the future.”

Radford returns to the Big South Conference Championship for the first time since 2001 as the Highlanders will face Liberty on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.