Volleyball Takes on Radford in Annual Dig Pink Match

UNC Asheville will resume its pursuit of the Big South volleyball championship on Saturday afternoon when it takes on Radford in the annual Dig Pink match. Together with the Side-Out Foundation, the Bulldogs will do their part to support the fight against breast cancer. The team will wear pink jerseys during the match and auction them off afterwards to raise money for this worthy cause. Donations can also be made at the match and on the UNC Asheville athletic department website.

The Bulldogs (18-7, 7-1) have stumbled a bit of late, falling to Coastal Carolina and East Tennessee State in their last two contests. Asheville still holds a one game lead in the Big South, but will need a victory on Saturday to remain ahead of Liberty, Winthrop, and Coastal. On September 25, the Bulldogs edged Radford on the road, 3-2. The star of that match was Lauren Ficker, who came up with 16 kills (while hitting .455) and 14 digs for her only double-double of the year. Asheville also got strong performances from Raquel Miotto (27 digs), Cindi Miller (13 kills), and the Holliday sisters (a combined 23 digs). The Bulldogs played the match without the injured Kelsey Benorden, who brings a streak of four consecutive double-doubles into Saturday’s match.

Asheville coach Julie Torbett argues that Radford (11-14, 1-8) is a much better team than its record indicates, and the squad certainly played at a high level in the September match. Four Highlanders registered double figure kills, and three had at least ten digs. Radford was paced by senior Lauren Clary, who tallied 17 kills and 8 digs while hitting .400. Freshman Desiree Aramburu, who ranks eighth in the conference in assists, posted 52 in the match to go with 5 kills and 10 digs. Junior Kiley Kent, second in service aces behind Miotto, had 3, along with 14 digs. The Highlanders lone conference win came against High Point on September 29, and the team has dropped six consecutive Big South matches since. Radford did break up the overall losing streak on October 13, edging North Carolina Central, 3-2.

The match on Saturday should be a battle, as Asheville fights to hang onto first place in the conference. Come out to the Justice Center to support the Bulldogs and the Side-Out Foundation! First serve is at 2:00.

Go Bulldogs!!!