ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? Big South-leading Liberty used a balanced attack to down homestanding UNC Asheville, 3-0 in Big South Conference volleyball action Saturday afternoon at Justice Center. The Lady Flames won the match, 30-27, 30-21, 30-17.
The Bulldogs (9-21, 2-10 BSC) were led by Alysha Greer and Ashley Wrightenberry with 11 kills each. Kelsey Benorden finished with a double-double as she had 10 kills and 14 digs. Raquel Miotto finished with 14 digs.
Liberty (22-7, 10-1 BSC) had Chelaine McCarty with 14 kills. She hit .684 for the match with one error in 19 attempts. Jessica Nelson posted 12 kills and nine digs. Nicki Scripko had nine kills and seven digs. The Flames had three players in double figures for digs with Lara Bartolomeo (15), Kayl Bacon (12) and Kallie Corbin (11). Ashley Webber had six kills in nine attempts and five blocks. Corbin had 43 assists and three service aces.
The key game of the match was the first game as Asheville led for most of the game. However, four service errors and 10 hitting errors doomed the Bulldogs. With the game tied at 25-25, Asheville committed a service error and Liberty got kills from McCarty and Nelson to lead 28-25. The Bulldogs closed to 28-27 on two kills from Wrightenberry but the Flames were able to get the next two points to win 30-27.
Liberty controlled the next two games as the Flames hit .452 in game two and game three. In the third game, LU make only one hitting error and had 15 kills to cruise to its first victory at Justice Center since the 2004 season.
UNC Asheville hosts Presbyterian next Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Liberty entertains North Carolina Central at the Vines Center Tuesday night starting at 7 p.m.
