ROCK HILL, S.C. - Karli Shepherd had 11 kills and Morgan Bossler notched nine while two players recorded double-figure digs in Winthrop's 3-0 victory over Radford on Saturday afternoon. The win moves the Eagles to 2-0 in conference play.
 
Winthrop (7-5, 2-0 Big South) | Radford (2-12, 0-2 Big South)
Sept. 25, 2021 | Winthrop Coliseum

---

Winthrop 3, Radford 0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-23)
 
How it Happened
 
Set 1 | Winthrop began the match with a 4-0 lead on a Highlander service error, two kills, and a Radford ballhandling error. The Highlanders tied the match at six and seven before the Eagles went on a 5-0 run that was capped off by a Jana Owens service ace. Later in the set, leading 15-10, Winthrop went on another 5-0 run that included three kills from Shepherd and Bossler. Although Radford fought hard the rest of the way, Shepherd finished off the 25-16 opening triumph with another kill.
 
Set 2 | The Eagles took an early 3-0 lead in the second stanza. Radford began to chip away at the lead and tied the match at eight. Winthrop won the next two points to build a slim lead, but the Highlanders stayed right on their heels. Leading 18-15, the Eagles looked poised to run away with the set, but Radford won four consecutive points to take a brief 19-18 lead. Winthrop then tied the match at 20 on a Brookelynn Thomas kill and won the next two points for a 22-20 lead. Although the Highlanders won the next point, the Eagles took three of the next four points with Shepherd ending the period with a kill.
 
Set 3 | The final set was a back and forth affair as the Highlanders took an early 4-2 lead. The Eagles took the early punch and tied the set at four on a Shepherd service ace before the teams battled back and forth with Winthrop eventually taking a 10-8 lead. Radford responded with another counterpunch as a 7-1 run forced an Eagle timeout. Winthrop then took three of the next five points to close within two on yet another Shepherd kill. The Highlanders won the next point for a 16-13 lead, but the Eagles won seven consecutive points to take control of the set. Radford got within one point multiple times, but Shepherd finished out the sweep with her final kill.

---

Statistical Standouts

• Karli Shepherd (11 kills, six digs)
• Morgan Bossler (nine kills)
• Brookelynn Thomas (eight kills, three digs, three blocks)
• Jana Owens (38 assists, six digs, four kills)

---

Notes

• Shepherd notched double-digit kills for the third time this season
• Madison Gorniak has excelled in the starting libero spot, posting double-digit digs in each of the last four contests

---

Up Next
Winthrop will face Presbyterian inside the friendly confines of the Winthrop Coliseum on Friday, October 1 at 6 p.m.

---

FOLLOW US!
For all the up-to-date information on Winthrop Volleyball, follow along on Twitter at @winthropvolley and Instagram at winthropvolleyball.