University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
9-5,3-3Big South
Radford
7-12,4-4Big South
Cackovic’s Career Day Helps Asheville to Victory over Radford
10.26.2024 | Women's Volleyball
RADFORD, Va. – Kylie Cackovic had a career day as she recorded 19 kills, with her final kill of the day being the match-sealing point Asheville needed, as the Bulldogs defeated Radford in five sets on Saturday afternoon in the Dedmon Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Back-to-back kills from Matilde Teixeira helped the Bulldogs reach an early four-point lead (9-5) to start Saturday's match. With the Bulldogs leading 14-10, the Highlanders went on a 4-0 run to tie the set at 14. The Highlanders were unable to take the lead, as a 4-0 run by Asheville put the Bulldogs ahead 19-15, and Radford was unable to catch up. The Bulldogs took the first set 25-21.
The Bulldogs' momentum carried over to the second frame as Asheville scored the first two points of the set and extended its lead 11-3. A kill from Teixeira helped the Bulldogs take a nine-point lead (14-5) before a 5-1 run from Radford cut Asheville's lead to five (15-10). This was as close as Radford would get, as Asheville went on to win the set 25-15, limiting Radford to five points to close the set while the Bulldogs scored 10.
The Highlanders were determined to avoid the sweep as Radford dominated the third set. The Highlanders trailed 9-3 early in the frame before going on a 6-0 run to the score at nine and taking the lead with a 7-1 run to move ahead 16-11. Radford did not take their foot off the gas for the rest of the set as the Highlanders held Asheville to just five points for the rest of the frame while winning the set 25-16.
Radford's dominance carried over to the fourth set as the Highlanders won 25-20 to send the match into a fifth set. Tied at eight, Radford scored the following two points, and the Highlanders would not trail for the rest of the set.
In the deciding set, Asheville took a 2-0 lead to open the frame and held the lead through the media break (8-5) before the Highlanders came out of the break with a 4-1 run to tie the score at nine. A kill from Teixeira helped Asheville back in the lead, and the Bulldogs were able to extend their lead out to three (13-10). The Highlanders called a timeout, and out of the break, Radford connected for back-to-back kills to bring the Highlanders within one. An attack error from Radford, followed by a kill from Cackovic, helped Asheville win the deciding set 15-12 and take the match 3-2.
IN THE BOX
The Bulldogs recorded 58 kills as a team and a .273 attack percentage, while Radford finished with a .211. Cackovic had a .288 attack percentage and added nine digs to her stat line. Teixeira had 13 kills, a .296 attack percentage and nine digs. Kimberly Czepukaitis, Lydia Pate and Albertine van der Goot were next for the Bulldogs in kills with nine, seven, and six kills, respectively. Pate had a .600 attack percentage, and Czepukaitis had a .533. The trio of Czepukaitis, Pate and van der Goot, alongside Avery Loeback, led Asheville's defense at the net, as Pate and van der Goot had three block assists apiece and Loeback and Czepukaitis each had two block assists. Payton Rolfsen had 28 assists and six digs, Riley Barr had 15 and Michelle Thao led with 13 digs.
UP NEXT
Asheville has three matches next week, first the Bulldogs will travel to Gardner-Webb for a 6 p.m. matchup on Tuesday, Oct. 29, before facing Charleston Southern on Friday, Nov. 1 and Presbyterian on Saturday, Nov. 2.
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