Radford Live Stats
Liberty Live Stats
ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team will head out on the road for the first time in three weeks this weekend when the Eagles head to Virginia to take on Radford and Liberty in two crucial conference contests.
Winthrop is riding a three-match winning streak after picking up a thrilling five-set victory over High Point last Friday and a four-set win over Campbell Saturday. The Eagles are currently 10-11 overall and 4-3 in the conference.
Stephanie Palmer recorded two triple-doubles this past weekend, increasing her league-leading total to six on the season. Campbell's Heather Wilson is the only other Big South player with a triple double this season and she has one.
The Eagles continue to be one of the top defensive teams in the conference as Winthrop leads the Big South in blocks per game with 2.38 and is second in the conference in digs per game with 15.58.
Winthrop will face Radford Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. The Highlanders are 13-11 overall this season with a 3-4 Big South mark. Radford split its two matches last weekend, falling to Coastal Carolina in five sets before beating Charleston Southern in three.
Radford has been able to spread the offensive duties this season with three players averaging two kills per set. Emma Deininger has been the top hitter for the Highlanders, totaling 147 kills this season. Deininger has also been the top blocker for the Highlanders, accumulating 70 total blocks this season. Radford has two primary setters, Jena Braden and Christine Beckham who have totaled 447 and 410 assists respectively this season. The Highlanders also have three different players with 200 or more digs.
Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. the Eagles will face the Liberty Flames. The Flames sit in a three-way tie atop the Big South standings with a 5-2 conference mark and a 15-7 overall record. Liberty is coming off a loss to Coastal Carolina last Saturday, but defeated Charleston Southern the night before.
The Flames primary attacker this season has been Carolina Douglas who leads the team and the league with 3.45 kills per set (293 total). The primary setter has been Jade Craycraft who has totaled 748 assists this season. Gabrille Shipe leads the team and is third in the league with 335 digs while Kendle Rollins leads the Flames at the net defensively with 85 total blocks.
After the weekend the Eagles will return home to the Winthrop Coliseum for a non-conference contest against the Furman Paladins, Tuesday October 23 at 6 p.m.
