Highlanders Fall To Winthrop

RADFORD, Va.--Two Winthrop players recorded double-digit kills to lead the Eagles on scoring runs and defeat Radford volleyball 3-0 Saturday afternoon at the Dedmon Center in a Big South Conference match. (Box Score)

Two Winthrop players recorded double-digit kills to lead the Eagles on scoring runs and defeat Radford volleyball 3-0 Saturday afternoon at the Dedmon Center in a Big South Conference match.

The win keeps Winthrop undefeated in Conference, as the Eagles move to 11-0 against Big South opponents, 24-2 overall. The Eagles are trying to become the sixth team in Big South history to have a perfect Conference record and to tie RU’s record 14 League wins. Radford, the last team to collect a perfect season, set that mark with an undefeated 2001 campaign. Between the 1999 and 2001 seasons, the Highlanders posted a 40-2 Big South record.

Sophomore Tori Grafeman (Albuquerque, N.M.) and junior Mary Hock (Garland, Texas) tallied 11 and 10 kills respectively to lead Winthrop to wins of 30-17, 30-16, 30-20. Sophomore Emily Heckl (Corrales, N.M.) had 32 assists while Sophomore Taryn Surbaugh (Orland Hills, Ill.) and junior Jayna Baker (Duncanville, Texas) each collected three blocks for the Eagles.

Winthrop broke open game one, which was tied at eight, with a 12-2 run en route to the 30-17 win. Leading by one at 13-12, the Eagles posted an 11-1 run to take control and win game two 30-16. Short runs of four and five points through game three secured a 30-20 game three victory and the match win for WU.

RU was led by senior Kate McHugh (North Branford, Conn.) with nine kills. Freshman Josie Hanners (Richmond, Va.) had 22 assists and 10 digs. Senior Tiffany Guthrie (Littleton, Colo.) had six blocks in the match.

The Highlanders fall to 3-19 overall this season, and remain winless in League play at 0-10.

Radford will step out of Conference play Tuesday to face East Tennessee State at home at 7:00 pm. The Eagles are off for almost a week before hosting UNC Asheville at 7:00 pm on Friday.