TOWSON, Md. – The Rutgers volleyball team went to five sets in its Towson Invitational opener on Friday afternoon. The Scarlet Knights, looking to go 4-0 for the first time since 1996, saw their three-game win streak halted with a 3-2 setback to Radford.
 

STANDOUT STATS

• A trio of Scarlet Knights collected double-figure kills led by redshirt freshman Alissa Kinkela's 12. Junior Kristina Grkovic and freshman Bekah Williams had 10 kills apiece. Grkovic also had a pair of RU's five service aces.
• Redshirt junior Lauren DeLo delivered 35 assists.
• On defense, sophomore Lucy Malone registered a career-high 22 digs.
• Additionally, Kinkella and Grkovic had five blocks each.

KEY MOMENTS

• Set 1 (20-25) | Alissa Kinkela led with a set-high five kills and committed only one error in her 12 attempts. One of Kinkela's swings tied the opening set up at 10-10, however, Radford followed by outscoring RU 4-1 to stay in front the rest of the frame.  Late, the Scarlet Knights trailed by only two at 22-20, but the Highlanders closed the set out with the next three points.
• Set 2 (25-19) | An 8-1 burst put Rutgers in command of the second set.  Kristina Grkovic contributed a trio of kills during the run that gave the Scarlet Knights a 13-8 advantage. RU extended its lead with five unanswered pulling ahead 19-11. The Highlanders were only able to narrow its deficit to three late. Grkovic collected four points on five attacks and served up an ace on match point.
• Set 3 (18-25) | Radford was able to capitalize on eight Scarlet Knight errors and used a 7-2 run to take control of the third set to take a 2-1 lead. The run put the Highlanders ahead at 11-6. Twice the Scarlet Knights were able to whittle the gap down to three. A kill from Grkovic had RU trailing, 20-17, but the Highlands took the set winning five of the next six points.
• Set 4 (25-20) | Rutgers came back to tie the match up again and force a fifth and deciding set thanks to six kills from Bekah Williams and four blocks from Grkovic. A 6-2 run gave Rutgers a 9-7 edge and a lead the Scarlet Knights would not relinquish. Two of Williams' swings gave RU its largest lead of the set at 18-13 and on match point.
• Set 5 (9-15) | Radford took a 6-1 lead en route to claiming the deciding set. While the Highlanders committed five attack errors, RU was limited to a pair of kills and a pair of blocks. 

UP NEXT

• Towson Invitational action continues on Saturday with Morgan State at 1 p.m. and host Towson at 7 p.m.

Follow Rutgers women's volleyball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.