Liberty University
4-2
Houston Baptist
4-3
Lady Flames Rally for 3-1 Win over Houston Baptist
9/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
After dropping the first set, Liberty reeled off three straight set victories, defeating Houston Baptist, 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-14), Saturday at J.C. Rolle Activity Center.
With the win, Liberty (4-2) finishes in third place with a 1-2 record at this weekend's Lumberjack Classic. Houston Baptist falls to 4-3 on the campaign after going 0-3 in Flagstaff.
Liberty's Jade Vorster was named to the all-tournament team, her second straight all-tournament team nod.
The Lady Flames outhit HBU, .309-.139 for the match, while also leading, 45-44 in digs and 6-2 in aces. Liberty also posted a season-high 10 blocks, compared to eight for the Huskies.
For the first time this season, the Lady Flames placed three players in double-figures in kills, led by Jade Vorster's 15 kills. Vorster also added six blocks. Gabrielle Vess contributed 14 kills and nine digs, while Sirena Vorster totaled 10 kills. Anna Willey dished out 42 assists, while Susan Babcock recorded six kills, four aces and four blocks. Allie Reynolds tied for the team lead with nine digs.
Jessica Wooten's 15 kills and 15 digs led the Huskies, who also received 37 assists and nine digs from Kayla Arner. Blair Gillard chipped in with seven kills and four blocks.
The first set featured 12 ties and seven lead changes. After Vess tied set one, 20-20, with a kill, the Huskies went on a 3-1 run, with Wooten scoring two kills. Following three rally points, Arner scored the set-clinching kill to give HBU a 25-23 set-one victory.
Houston Baptist hit .250 during the opening frame, compared to .125 for the Lady Flames. Liberty's Vess and HBU's Wooten both registered five kills in set one.
The Lady Flames jumped out to a 7-2 lead during the second session and never looked back, hitting .462 on the while taking the set, 25-17. Jade Vorster hit 5-0-6 for the Lady Flames, while Babcock served up two aces. Wooten scored seven kills for the Huskies, who hit .154.
After trailing, 7-1, early on in set three, the Lady Flames quickly responded with a 10-1 run to take the lead, 11-8. The Huskies twice drew to within two, but got no closer as Liberty rolled to victory, 25-16.
Liberty attacked at a .414 pace during the third set, compared to .226 for HBU. Jade Vorster scored six kills for the Lady Flames, while Babcock added two service aces.
The Lady Flames closed out the match with a decisive, 25-14 victory during the fourth stanza. Liberty outscored the Huskies, 20-8, after trailing 6-5. For set four, Liberty hit .321 while posting four blocks and holding Houston Baptist to a -.103 showing.
The Lady Flames will next compete in the Appalachian State Invitational, held in Boone, N.C., next Friday and Saturday. Liberty opens the tournament against Charlotte on Friday at 4 p.m., before facing the host Appalachian State Mountaineers and Missouri Tigers on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
