Birmingham-Southern Defeats Radford Volleyball

RADFORD, Va.--Radford volleyball was unable to take advantage of a one-game lead, falling 3-1 to visiting Birmingham-Southern Sunday afternoon in a Big South Conference match at the Dedmon Center. (Box Score)

The loss is RU’s 14th loss in the last 15 games. The Highlanders, who lost 24-30, 30-20, 30-26, 30-23, fall to 3-15 overall and remain winless in Conference at 0-7. Birmingham-Southern improves to 10-9 overall and 5-3 in League play.

Radford took a quick lead in game one, and used it to earn a victory and take a one-game match lead. The Highs took another lead in game two, but BSC tied it at nine, and the pulled ahead to knot the match at 1-1. The Panthers were in control early in games three and four, holding off Radford rallies to secure the victory.

Junior Divona Cox (Virginia Beach, Va.) led the RU attack, recording 16 kills and attacking at a .333 clip. Senior Tiffany Guthrie (Littleton, Colo.) also had double-digit kills with 12. Senior Kate McHugh (North Branford, Conn.) tallied 14 digs and five total blocks to lead RU and junior Elizabeth Aldredge (Richmond, Va.) had three aces. Cox and Guthrie each had four total blocks. Freshman Josie Hanners (Richmond, Va.) recorded 38 assists and 11 digs.

The Panthers placed three players in double-digit kills, with Cassie Reed (Ellisville, Mo.) leading all hitters with 17 kills. Jana Smelley (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) had 16 kills and Rachel Malmborg (Mokena, Ill.) had 11. Lindsey Herzog (Keller, Texas) had 18 digs and Lillian Henderson (Huntsville, Ala.) scored seven total blocks. Kyndall Waters recorded 54 assists.

The Highlanders return to action Tuesday at Charlotte at 7:00 pm. Birmingham-Southern travels to UNC Asheville for a 1:00 pm Big South match.