Liberty University
9-8,4-0
Campbell
5-11,0-3
Liberty Digs Deep for 3-2 Win at Campbell in Thrilling Fashion
10/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty fought back from a 6-1, fifth-set deficit to win a back-and-forth match over Campbell, 3-2 (18-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11) Friday at Gore Arena.
The Lady Flames (9-8) remain unbeaten in Big South play at 4-0 following their fifth win in a row. Liberty's has won back-to-back five-set matches in league play, also defeating UNC Asheville, 3-2, last Saturday. Campbell falls to 5-11, 0-3 in Big South play.
Trailing, 6-1, in set five, Liberty outscored the Camels, 14-5 during the final 19 serves, including a match-ending 6-0 rally to pull off the comeback.
For the match, Liberty outhit Campbell, .251-.203, while outdigging the Camels, 89-86. The hosts led in blocks, 12-5 and in aces, 8-5.
Margaret Latchford collected a program rally-scoring-record 38 digs, breaking the previous mark of 35, held by Lara Bartolomeo and Kelly Haseman. Caroline Douglas sent down a match-high 17 kills for the Lady Flames, while Jade Vorster scored 15 kills and added three blocks. Anna Willey dished out a career-high 52 assists while adding 13 digs for the double-double. Susan Babcock served up three aces to lead all players. Gabrielle Vess scored 10 kills.
Katelyn Layden and Rachel Harty tied for Campbell's team lead with 14 kills apiece, while Layden also recorded 14 digs. Rebecca Ramirez (27 assists, 14 digs) and Summer Schuitema (23 assists, 11 digs) both recorded double-doubles. Mary Crema led Campbell with 24 digs, while Amelia Armstrong tallied 11 kills. McKenzie Fell posted a match-high six blocks.
The Camels built a 19-14 lead in set one. Willey then sparked a 3-0 Liberty rally with a kill. Campbell pulled away, outscoring the Lady Flames, 6-1 down the stretch to pull away for a 25-18 victory.
Campbell outhit Liberty, .216-.075 during the opening set, as the hosts recorded five blocks. Sirena Vorster scored four kills for the Lady Flames.
The Lady Flames bounced back, rallying late during the second session to tie the match with a 25-22 victory. Liberty tied the set, 19-19, on a Hannah Weidner-Sirena Vorster block. Campbell took the lead, 22-20, but Liberty reeled off five-straight points, including a set-clinching kill by Jade Vorster.
The Camels earned a 22-20, set-three lead with a kill and ace from Armstrong. Jade Vorster then sent down a kill, but the teams traded sideouts from that point on, with Campbell winning, 25-23.
Campbell held a slight, .326-.306 in hitting percentage during the third set. Armstrong recorded six kills, while Vess sent down five kills.
During the second set, Liberty hit .156, compared to .093 for the Camels. Harty recorded five set-two kills for Campbell, while Douglas sent down four kills.
The Lady Flames hit .400 during a 25-22, set-four victory, while Campbell hit .175. Jade Vorster gave Liberty a 21-18 lead with a kill. Campbell scored the next two points, before Liberty pulled away for a 25-22 victory. Jade Vorster recorded six kills during the fourth stanza.
Campbell took an 8-4 lead at the changeover during set five. Hannah Weidner then scored a kill, sparking a match-ending 11-3 run. Trailing, 11-9, Liberty took the momentum following a Campbell error. Douglas scored a kill to tie the match, and Babcock served out last five points.
The Lady Flames outhit Campbell, .318-.217 during the final session, as Caroline Douglas scored four kills.
Liberty will close out its North Carolina weekend trip with a 2 p.m. match at High Point, tomorrow at the Millis Center. The Lady Flames will be looking for their first win at High Point since Nov. 2, 2012.
