Liberty University
7-9, 2-2Big South
Gardner-Webb
10-9, 1-4Big South
Lady Flames Sweep Runnin' Bulldogs in Conference Home Opener
10/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Playing at home for the first time in over a month, Liberty raced to a 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-16) win over Gardner-Webb in front of a season-high 1,506 fans, Friday at the Vines Center.
With the win, the Lady Flames (7-9) even their conference record at 2-2. Gardner-Webb is now 10-9, 1-4 in Big South play following its third consecutive setback. Liberty has won the last six meetings in a row.
Friday night's attendance was the third-highest for volleyball in Vines Center history.
Liberty outhit Gardner-Webb, .301-.058, leading 42-29 in kills. The Lady Flames held a 62-44 advantage in digs, while the Runnin' Bulldogs led, 4-3, in aces and 5-3, in blocks.
Gabrielle Vess led a balanced Lady Flames attack, scoring a match-high nine kills and adding 10 digs. Anna Willey totaled 30 assists and 12 digs, good for her fourth double-double of the season. Anna Gragg and Casey Goodwin sent down eight kills each, while Margaret Latchford tied for the match high with 13 digs.
For Gardner-Webb, Taylor Lillard and Hannah Driscoll recorded six kills apiece. Amanda Sahm recorded 12 assists and 10 digs, while Tinsley Fain served up a match-high three aces. Emma Milstead collected 13 digs.
The Lady Flames trailed 4-2 after the first six serves of the match, but overwhelmed the Runnin' Bulldogs for the remainder of the set to win, 25-11. Liberty hit .355, led by four kills from Payton Carter, while Gardner-Webb managed just six kills, hitting -.077.
Liberty led set two, 8-7, before the match was delayed as Liberty Athletics Facilities replaced a broken net. After Gardner-Webb tied the score at 11-11 on a Kiera Moore kill, the teams traded the next 15 points. Vess scored a kill to make it 20-18, and the Lady Flames pulled away for a 25-20 victory.
The hosts held a .263-.133 advantage in hitting percentage during the third session, despite four blocks by Gardner-Webb. Vess scored five kills for the Lady Flames.
Liberty secured the match sweep, winning set three by a 25-16 score. Leah Clayton scored a kill to give her team a 10-point lead at 22-12. Lillard sent down two kills during a quick four-point Runnin' Bulldog run. The Lady Flames then scored the final three points for the win.
During the final stanza, Liberty outhit Gardner-Webb, .294-.111.
The Lady Flames take on Winthrop tomorrow at the Vines Center, with first serve scheduled for 2 p.m.
