Liberty University
4-7
Middle Tennessee
3-11
Middle Tennessee Posts 3-0 Sweep over Liberty
9/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Middle Tennessee hit .316 on the way to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-17) sweep over Liberty on Saturday at Cassell Coliseum.
With the win, the Blue Raiders boost their record to 3-11, including 1-1 at this weekend's Hokie Invitational. Liberty's record stands at 4-7 following the team's fifth loss in a row.
Middle Tennessee outhit Liberty, .316-.098 for the match, while the Blue Raiders led, 13-5 in blocks, 46-38 in digs and 3-2 in service aces.
MT's Miri Shade led all players with 12 kills, while Chelsea Ross scored 10 kills. LaVondria Covington recorded eight kills and six blocks, while Rachel Shaughnessy matched her teammate with six blocks. Delaney Taylor dished out a match-high 32 assists, while Jacqueline Lux collected 18 digs and added two aces.
Sirena Vorster contributed eight kills and four blocks to lead Liberty. Margaret Latchford collected 10 digs, good for her fifth straight double-digit dig match. Rachel Morris and Anna Willey tied for the team lead with 12 assists apiece.
Liberty used a 5-0 run to take the lead, 16-14, during set one. The Lady Flames led, 17-15, following a Rachel Morris-Vorster block. Middle Tennessee then staged an 8-0 rally, capped by a Shaughnessy kill for a 23-17 advantage. The Blue Raiders claimed the set, 25-19.
MT outhit Liberty, .343-.321 in the opening set. Sydney Morris led Liberty with four kills, while Ross scored four kills for MT.
The Blue Raiders broke open a tight second set, outscoring the Lady Flames 15-8 over the final 23 serves to take the set, 25-16 and earn a 2-0 match lead. Middle Tennessee hit .194 during the second set, while Liberty attacked at a -.057 pace. MT posted six blocks in the second session, with LaVondria Covington and Makila York recording four block assists apiece.
Middle Tennessee closed out the match with a 25-17 victory in the final session. Liberty made a late charge after trailing, 19-10, with Vorster recording four kills and an ace down the stretch, but the Blue Raiders completed the sweep. MT hit .444 during set four, while Liberty checked in at .077. The Blue Raiders had six blocks during set three, matching their set-two total.
Liberty will close out tournament play this evening, facing the host Virginia Tech Hokies at 7 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum.
