Saturday, September 12
Louisville, Ky.
1:00 PM
Liberty University
4-4
3
vs
2
Tennessee Tech
1-8
1
2
3
4
5
F
Liberty
29
22
25
10
16
3
Tennessee Tech
27
25
18
25
14
2
Scripko Pushes Liberty Past Tennessee Tech
9/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty junior Nicki Scripko recorded nine of her season-high 23 kills during the fifth set of Saturday afternoon's match versus Tennessee Tech, helping the Lady Flames outlast the Golden Eagles, 3-2 (29-27, 22-25, 25-18, 10-25, 16-14). The marathon contest was part of the Cardinal Classic, being held at Cardinal Arena in Louisville, Ky.
With its first-ever victory over Tennessee Tech in four tries, Liberty evens its 2009 record at 4-4. Meanwhile, the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Golden Eagles fall to 1-8.
The opening set was the longest and most competitive of the match, which required 2:04 to complete. The score was tied 15 times and the lead changed hands on seven occasions. Liberty fought off a trio of set points, before scoring three consecutive markers to pull out a hard-fought 29-27 victory. A Hannah Anderson (Fr., OH, Rocklin, Calif.) kill, a Kelly Haseman (So., L/DS, Three Rivers, Mich.) ace and a combined block by Anderson and Chelaine McCarty (Sr., MB, Houston, Ala.) finished off set one.
Kirstyn Sanders (R-Jr., MB, Bear, Del.), whose older sister Alysson played for Tennessee Tech a season ago, hit .600 with a set-high seven kills during the opening stanza. Meanwhile, Haseman contributed six digs and a pair of aces for the Lady Flames. The Golden Eagles' offensive leader was Teresa Craig, who recorded five kills and a .714 attack percentage during set one.
A 10-2 surge early in the second set, featuring kills by five different players, enabled Tennessee Tech to take control. Liberty whittled its seven-point deficit down to two, but the Golden Eagles held on for a 25-22 victory, evening the match at 1-1.
Leah Meffert's four kills paced a balanced offensive attack by Tennessee Tech, while setter Melanie Culp totaled 14 sets during the second stanza. On the Liberty side of the net, Anderson came up with four blocks.
Efficient serving powered Liberty's success in the third set, as the Lady Flames totaled five service aces and zero errors. McCarty fashioned back-to-back aces during an 8-2 burst, which turned an 11-10 Lady Flame deficit into an 18-13 advantage. Nicki Scripko's (Jr., OH, Fayetteville, N.C.) fifth kill of the set then put the finishing touches on a 25-18 Liberty triumph.
McCarty complemented her two aces with four kills during set three, helping Liberty hit. 345. Kelsey Gray's five kills sparked the Golden Eagles.
With their backs against the wall, Tennessee Tech came out firing on all cylinders during the fourth set. The Golden Eagles never trailed, hitting .450 during a 25-10 victory.
Leah Meffert posted six kills to lead Tennessee Tech's attack, while Katrina Dvorken tallied a trio of blocks. Scripko's three kills led the way for the Lady Flames.
Extended to a fifth and deciding set for the first time this season, the Lady Flames rose to the occasion. Five Scripko kills helped Liberty run out to a 6-2 advantage, before Tennessee Tech responded. The Golden Eagles came back to claim a 13-11 lead, putting themselves within two points of victory.
Liberty then pulled out the win with a match-closing 5-1 surge. Back-to-back Scripko kills provided the final two points of the Lady Flames' 16-14 victory.
Scripko hit .533 with nine kills during set five, matching the Golden Eagles' team kill total by herself. Haseman contributed seven digs. Tennessee Tech's offensive leader was Amanda Lindgren, with three kills.
For the match, Tennessee Tech actually won most of the statistical battles, outhitting Liberty, .262 to .161 and recording 62 digs to the Lady Flames' 56. However, Liberty's nine service aces played a key role in the team's narrow victory.
Scripko exceeded the 20-kill plateau for the third time in her career and completed her second double-double of the season with 10 digs. Both Liberty middle blockers joined Scripko in double digits for kills, as McCarty posted 11 and Sanders ended up with a career-best 10 kills.
Defensively, Haseman paced all players with 20 kills, while Anderson came up with a team-high six blocks.
Liberty setter Kallie Corbin (Sr., Beaverton, Ore.) finished with a season-high 51 assists, five kills and five digs.
Meffert led Tennessee Tech in both kills (19) and digs (16). Setter Culp added 59 assists, while Gray had a hand in a match-leading seven blocks.
Liberty will wrap up play at the Cardinal Classic tonight at 7 p.m., when the Lady Flames face host Louisville, the preseason BIG EAST Conference favorite.
With its first-ever victory over Tennessee Tech in four tries, Liberty evens its 2009 record at 4-4. Meanwhile, the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Golden Eagles fall to 1-8.
The opening set was the longest and most competitive of the match, which required 2:04 to complete. The score was tied 15 times and the lead changed hands on seven occasions. Liberty fought off a trio of set points, before scoring three consecutive markers to pull out a hard-fought 29-27 victory. A Hannah Anderson (Fr., OH, Rocklin, Calif.) kill, a Kelly Haseman (So., L/DS, Three Rivers, Mich.) ace and a combined block by Anderson and Chelaine McCarty (Sr., MB, Houston, Ala.) finished off set one.
Kirstyn Sanders (R-Jr., MB, Bear, Del.), whose older sister Alysson played for Tennessee Tech a season ago, hit .600 with a set-high seven kills during the opening stanza. Meanwhile, Haseman contributed six digs and a pair of aces for the Lady Flames. The Golden Eagles' offensive leader was Teresa Craig, who recorded five kills and a .714 attack percentage during set one.
A 10-2 surge early in the second set, featuring kills by five different players, enabled Tennessee Tech to take control. Liberty whittled its seven-point deficit down to two, but the Golden Eagles held on for a 25-22 victory, evening the match at 1-1.
Leah Meffert's four kills paced a balanced offensive attack by Tennessee Tech, while setter Melanie Culp totaled 14 sets during the second stanza. On the Liberty side of the net, Anderson came up with four blocks.
Efficient serving powered Liberty's success in the third set, as the Lady Flames totaled five service aces and zero errors. McCarty fashioned back-to-back aces during an 8-2 burst, which turned an 11-10 Lady Flame deficit into an 18-13 advantage. Nicki Scripko's (Jr., OH, Fayetteville, N.C.) fifth kill of the set then put the finishing touches on a 25-18 Liberty triumph.
McCarty complemented her two aces with four kills during set three, helping Liberty hit. 345. Kelsey Gray's five kills sparked the Golden Eagles.
With their backs against the wall, Tennessee Tech came out firing on all cylinders during the fourth set. The Golden Eagles never trailed, hitting .450 during a 25-10 victory.
Leah Meffert posted six kills to lead Tennessee Tech's attack, while Katrina Dvorken tallied a trio of blocks. Scripko's three kills led the way for the Lady Flames.
Extended to a fifth and deciding set for the first time this season, the Lady Flames rose to the occasion. Five Scripko kills helped Liberty run out to a 6-2 advantage, before Tennessee Tech responded. The Golden Eagles came back to claim a 13-11 lead, putting themselves within two points of victory.
Liberty then pulled out the win with a match-closing 5-1 surge. Back-to-back Scripko kills provided the final two points of the Lady Flames' 16-14 victory.
Scripko hit .533 with nine kills during set five, matching the Golden Eagles' team kill total by herself. Haseman contributed seven digs. Tennessee Tech's offensive leader was Amanda Lindgren, with three kills.
For the match, Tennessee Tech actually won most of the statistical battles, outhitting Liberty, .262 to .161 and recording 62 digs to the Lady Flames' 56. However, Liberty's nine service aces played a key role in the team's narrow victory.
Scripko exceeded the 20-kill plateau for the third time in her career and completed her second double-double of the season with 10 digs. Both Liberty middle blockers joined Scripko in double digits for kills, as McCarty posted 11 and Sanders ended up with a career-best 10 kills.
Defensively, Haseman paced all players with 20 kills, while Anderson came up with a team-high six blocks.
Liberty setter Kallie Corbin (Sr., Beaverton, Ore.) finished with a season-high 51 assists, five kills and five digs.
Meffert led Tennessee Tech in both kills (19) and digs (16). Setter Culp added 59 assists, while Gray had a hand in a match-leading seven blocks.
Liberty will wrap up play at the Cardinal Classic tonight at 7 p.m., when the Lady Flames face host Louisville, the preseason BIG EAST Conference favorite.
Team Stats
LIBERTY
TTU
Kills
60
64
Errors
33
21
Attempts
168
164
Hitting %
.161
.262
Points
79.0
77.0
Assists
56
63
Aces
9
3
Blocks
10.0
10.0
Game Leaders
Kills
23
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
2
Blocks
5
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
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