Presbyterian and UNC Asheville to Visit Vines
10/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Live Streaming Video for Presbyterian at Liberty match (Big South EDGE)
Live Statistics link for both weekend matches
For the past two seasons, the Liberty volleyball team has thrived during the month of October. The Lady Flames' 3-0 win at Radford Tuesday evening was Liberty's 12th consecutive 3-0 sweep in October. Liberty will have two opportunities to extend the streak this Friday and Saturday, when Big South foes Presbyterian and UNC Asheville visit the Vines Center.
Liberty, now 13-5 overall and 4-0 in the Big South, needs two victories to keep pace with High Point atop the conference standings. The Panthers, who will face the Lady Flames at the Vines Center on Tuesday, have won all five of their conference contests.
The Matches
Friday, Oct. 10 (Vines Center)
7 p.m. – Presbyterian (4-12, 1-3 Big South) at Liberty (13-5, 4-0 Big South)
Saturday, Oct. 11 (Vines Center)
12:30 p.m. – UNC Asheville (8-8, 0-3 Big South) at Liberty
How to Follow the Lady Flames
Friday's match versus UNC Asheville will be televised on WTLU by the announcing team of Ray Jones (play-by-play) and Lee Beaumont (color). The broadcast will also be broadcast on RTN 13.2, the digital station for Lynchburg's WSET ABC 13, and video streamed live through the Big South EDGE. For more information, please click the link at the top of this release or click "Live Video" on the Liberty volleyball schedule/results page.
Live stats will be available for both weekend matches. They are accessible by clicking the link at the top of this release or clicking "Live Stats" on the volleyball schedule/results page of LibertyFlames.com.
A Look at Liberty
Liberty, coached by Shane Pinder (72-73 in his fifth season), has gone 5-1 in its last six matches. Most recently, the Lady Flames swept in-state rival Radford, 3-0, Tuesday evening at Peters Hall. The victory kept Liberty unscathed in conference play.
Middle blockers played an important role in the Lady Flames' triumph. Junior Chelaine McCarty hit over .500 for the second straight year at Radford. She ended with a .588 attack percentage and a team-high 11 kills. Meanwhile, senior Ashley Webber celebrated birthday No. 21 with six block assists, sharing the team lead. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Kirstyn Sanders also got into the act, contributing two kills and a block during set three.
Streaks On the Line
Liberty enters the weekend hoping to extend several lengthy winning streaks.
1) The Lady Flames have won 15 straight matches versus Big South opponents.
2) Liberty has recorded nine consecutive 3-0 sweeps at home versus Big South opponents.
3) Liberty has posted 12 straight 3-0 sweeps during the month of October.
Nearing the 1,000/1,000 Club
Senior outside hitter Jessica Nelson enters the weekend with 955 career kills and 978 career digs, putting her on the verge of joining the 1,000/1,000 club. Nelson would be the first Lady Flame to finish her career with more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs since current assistant coach Jennifer (Belk) Vaden, who graduated in 2004.
600 on the Horizon
Liberty is just two wins shy of reaching the 600-victory mark in program history. Entering Friday's match versus UNC Asheville, the Lady Flames own an all-time record of 598-529 since 1976.
Eight Blocks is Enough
When Liberty has blocked well this season, the Lady Flames have won. In fact, Liberty is 9-0 when recording eight or more rejections. Conversely, the Lady Flames are only 4-5 when failing to reach the eight-block plateau.
First Time Since …
The Lady Flames have started 4-0 in Big South play for the first time in head coach Shane Pinder's five seasons at the helm. Liberty is off to its best Big South start since winning its first six conference matches in 2003. That season, the Lady Flames went on to claim the Big South regular-season title.
Big South's Best
Four Liberty players are ranked among the top five on the Big South statistical leaderboard. McCarty is second in attack percentage (.359), while position mate Ashley Webber sits second in blocks per set (0.88 bps). Kallie Corbin sits third in assists per set (9.69 aps) and fifth in service aces per set (0.35 aps), and sophomore Nicki Scripko is ranked fourth in kills per set (3.44 kps).
Around the Big South
One of the most intriguing matches of the early Big South volleyball season will take place Friday evening at High Point's Millis Athletic Center. Conference-leading High Point plays host to perennial Big South power Winthrop at 7 p.m. High Point, 5-0 in the Big South, is a perfect 8-0 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Eagles, who have won at least a share of the conference regular-season title for four straight seasons, are just 2-2 in conference play this year. Winthrop has already dropped Big South contests to Coastal Carolina and Gardner-Webb.
Scouting Reports
Presbyterian – 4-12, 1-3 Big South
The Presbyterian Blue Hose, located in Clinton, S.C., are coached by Chris Belshe, who is 33-50 in his third season at the helm of the Blue Hose. Presbyterian is currently in the second year of a four-year transition to full NCAA Division I status. This season, Presbyterian is eligible for the Big South regular-season title for the first time, although the Blue Hose will not compete in the postseason Big South Volleyball Championship.
Presbyterian picked up its first official Big South win in program history Tuesday evening, in a 3-1 victory at UNC Asheville. However, the Blue Hose did claim six victories in 14 matches versus Big South foes in 2007, before their matches started counting in the conference standings.
Two Blue Hose are ranked among the conference leaders. Rachel Lewis, a 5-5 senior setter, is fourth in the Big South with 495 assists. Libero Elizabeth Heineman, a 5-5 sophomore, ranks fourth in digs with 230. Presbyterian's offensive leader is also a sophomore, Lisa Shelley, a transfer from the South Carolina Gamecocks. She has notched 142 kills on the year.
Liberty won both of its meetings with Presbyterian in 2007, the first two matches the programs had ever played against each other. The Lady Flames swept the Blue Hose, 3-0, Oct. 12 at the Vines Center. Presbyterian then halted Liberty's string of 30 consecutive sets won on Nov. 2, before the Lady Flames came back to record a 3-1 road win.
UNC Asheville – 8-8, 0-3 Big South
The UNC Asheville Bulldogs are coached by Julie Torbett, who is 249-229 in her 15th season as head coach. The Big South career wins leader, she needs just one more victory to reach 250 for her career, and has an opportunity to earn it Friday at Radford.
The Bulldogs' non-conference slate included their first-ever win over an ACC opponent, as UNC Asheville claimed a 3-2 win at N.C. State on Sept. 13. However, UNC Asheville is still seeking its initial Big South win of the season.
The Bulldogs, who will host the 2008 Big South Volleyball Championship at the Justice Center, are led by 5-10 sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Benorden. She ranks fifth in the Big South with 214 kills and set a Vines Center record with 34 kills versus High Point, in the first round of the 2007 Big South Volleyball Championship. UNC Asheville's lineup includes only one senior, 6-0 middle blocker Heather Burns, who sits third in the conference with 53 blocks.
Liberty has won three straight matches against UNC Asheville, increasing its advantage in the squads' all-time head-to-head series to 24-16. McCarty equaled the Lady Flames' rally-scoring attack percentage record at UNC Asheville on Nov. 3, 2007, hitting .684 for the match. Her efforts helped Liberty sweep the Bulldogs for the second time in the 2007 campaign.
Live Statistics link for both weekend matches
For the past two seasons, the Liberty volleyball team has thrived during the month of October. The Lady Flames' 3-0 win at Radford Tuesday evening was Liberty's 12th consecutive 3-0 sweep in October. Liberty will have two opportunities to extend the streak this Friday and Saturday, when Big South foes Presbyterian and UNC Asheville visit the Vines Center.
Liberty, now 13-5 overall and 4-0 in the Big South, needs two victories to keep pace with High Point atop the conference standings. The Panthers, who will face the Lady Flames at the Vines Center on Tuesday, have won all five of their conference contests.
The Matches
Friday, Oct. 10 (Vines Center)
7 p.m. – Presbyterian (4-12, 1-3 Big South) at Liberty (13-5, 4-0 Big South)
Saturday, Oct. 11 (Vines Center)
12:30 p.m. – UNC Asheville (8-8, 0-3 Big South) at Liberty
How to Follow the Lady Flames
Friday's match versus UNC Asheville will be televised on WTLU by the announcing team of Ray Jones (play-by-play) and Lee Beaumont (color). The broadcast will also be broadcast on RTN 13.2, the digital station for Lynchburg's WSET ABC 13, and video streamed live through the Big South EDGE. For more information, please click the link at the top of this release or click "Live Video" on the Liberty volleyball schedule/results page.
Live stats will be available for both weekend matches. They are accessible by clicking the link at the top of this release or clicking "Live Stats" on the volleyball schedule/results page of LibertyFlames.com.
A Look at Liberty
Liberty, coached by Shane Pinder (72-73 in his fifth season), has gone 5-1 in its last six matches. Most recently, the Lady Flames swept in-state rival Radford, 3-0, Tuesday evening at Peters Hall. The victory kept Liberty unscathed in conference play.
Middle blockers played an important role in the Lady Flames' triumph. Junior Chelaine McCarty hit over .500 for the second straight year at Radford. She ended with a .588 attack percentage and a team-high 11 kills. Meanwhile, senior Ashley Webber celebrated birthday No. 21 with six block assists, sharing the team lead. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Kirstyn Sanders also got into the act, contributing two kills and a block during set three.
Streaks On the Line
Liberty enters the weekend hoping to extend several lengthy winning streaks.
1) The Lady Flames have won 15 straight matches versus Big South opponents.
2) Liberty has recorded nine consecutive 3-0 sweeps at home versus Big South opponents.
3) Liberty has posted 12 straight 3-0 sweeps during the month of October.
Nearing the 1,000/1,000 Club
Senior outside hitter Jessica Nelson enters the weekend with 955 career kills and 978 career digs, putting her on the verge of joining the 1,000/1,000 club. Nelson would be the first Lady Flame to finish her career with more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs since current assistant coach Jennifer (Belk) Vaden, who graduated in 2004.
600 on the Horizon
Liberty is just two wins shy of reaching the 600-victory mark in program history. Entering Friday's match versus UNC Asheville, the Lady Flames own an all-time record of 598-529 since 1976.
Eight Blocks is Enough
When Liberty has blocked well this season, the Lady Flames have won. In fact, Liberty is 9-0 when recording eight or more rejections. Conversely, the Lady Flames are only 4-5 when failing to reach the eight-block plateau.
First Time Since …
The Lady Flames have started 4-0 in Big South play for the first time in head coach Shane Pinder's five seasons at the helm. Liberty is off to its best Big South start since winning its first six conference matches in 2003. That season, the Lady Flames went on to claim the Big South regular-season title.
Big South's Best
Four Liberty players are ranked among the top five on the Big South statistical leaderboard. McCarty is second in attack percentage (.359), while position mate Ashley Webber sits second in blocks per set (0.88 bps). Kallie Corbin sits third in assists per set (9.69 aps) and fifth in service aces per set (0.35 aps), and sophomore Nicki Scripko is ranked fourth in kills per set (3.44 kps).
Around the Big South
One of the most intriguing matches of the early Big South volleyball season will take place Friday evening at High Point's Millis Athletic Center. Conference-leading High Point plays host to perennial Big South power Winthrop at 7 p.m. High Point, 5-0 in the Big South, is a perfect 8-0 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Eagles, who have won at least a share of the conference regular-season title for four straight seasons, are just 2-2 in conference play this year. Winthrop has already dropped Big South contests to Coastal Carolina and Gardner-Webb.
Scouting Reports
Presbyterian – 4-12, 1-3 Big South
The Presbyterian Blue Hose, located in Clinton, S.C., are coached by Chris Belshe, who is 33-50 in his third season at the helm of the Blue Hose. Presbyterian is currently in the second year of a four-year transition to full NCAA Division I status. This season, Presbyterian is eligible for the Big South regular-season title for the first time, although the Blue Hose will not compete in the postseason Big South Volleyball Championship.
Presbyterian picked up its first official Big South win in program history Tuesday evening, in a 3-1 victory at UNC Asheville. However, the Blue Hose did claim six victories in 14 matches versus Big South foes in 2007, before their matches started counting in the conference standings.
Two Blue Hose are ranked among the conference leaders. Rachel Lewis, a 5-5 senior setter, is fourth in the Big South with 495 assists. Libero Elizabeth Heineman, a 5-5 sophomore, ranks fourth in digs with 230. Presbyterian's offensive leader is also a sophomore, Lisa Shelley, a transfer from the South Carolina Gamecocks. She has notched 142 kills on the year.
Liberty won both of its meetings with Presbyterian in 2007, the first two matches the programs had ever played against each other. The Lady Flames swept the Blue Hose, 3-0, Oct. 12 at the Vines Center. Presbyterian then halted Liberty's string of 30 consecutive sets won on Nov. 2, before the Lady Flames came back to record a 3-1 road win.
UNC Asheville – 8-8, 0-3 Big South
The UNC Asheville Bulldogs are coached by Julie Torbett, who is 249-229 in her 15th season as head coach. The Big South career wins leader, she needs just one more victory to reach 250 for her career, and has an opportunity to earn it Friday at Radford.
The Bulldogs' non-conference slate included their first-ever win over an ACC opponent, as UNC Asheville claimed a 3-2 win at N.C. State on Sept. 13. However, UNC Asheville is still seeking its initial Big South win of the season.
The Bulldogs, who will host the 2008 Big South Volleyball Championship at the Justice Center, are led by 5-10 sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Benorden. She ranks fifth in the Big South with 214 kills and set a Vines Center record with 34 kills versus High Point, in the first round of the 2007 Big South Volleyball Championship. UNC Asheville's lineup includes only one senior, 6-0 middle blocker Heather Burns, who sits third in the conference with 53 blocks.
Liberty has won three straight matches against UNC Asheville, increasing its advantage in the squads' all-time head-to-head series to 24-16. McCarty equaled the Lady Flames' rally-scoring attack percentage record at UNC Asheville on Nov. 3, 2007, hitting .684 for the match. Her efforts helped Liberty sweep the Bulldogs for the second time in the 2007 campaign.
Tuesday, November 18
Saturday, October 11
Saturday, September 27
Wednesday, September 24