Liberty University
15-11, 10-4BSC
Presbyterian
4-23, 2-10BSC
Lady Flames Sweep PC on Melendez Night
11/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty hit .315 as a team while racing to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-8, 25-19) sweep of the visiting Presbyterian Blue Hose, in front of 1,289 fans on Friday at the Vines Center.
Prior to Friday's match, the Lady Flames honored their lone senior, Michelle Melendez, with a Senior Night ceremony.
With the win, Liberty is now 15-11 on the season, including 10-4 in Big South play. The Lady Flames have won 10 out of their last 12 matches. Presbyterian falls to 4-23, 2-10 in conference matches, after sustaining their seventh straight loss.
Liberty outhit PC, .315-.100, on the match. It was the Lady Flames' highest hitting percentage in a conference match so far this season. The hosts also led in aces (6-1), blocks (8-1) and digs (46-36).
Gabrielle Vess led all players with 13 kills, while Leah Clayton recorded nine kills, two aces and 14 digs. Anna Willey registered 33 assists and three blocks, while Margaret Latchford collected 10 digs. Anna Gragg set a new program freshman record, as her two blocks give her 93 for the season.
Samantha Del Toro scored a team-high nine kills for the Blue Hose, while Halle Tripp connected for seven kills. Sara Rogers dished out 16 assists, while Megan Jones and Mikayla Register evenly split 22 digs.
Presbyterian used a 6-0 run to tie set one, 9-9, as a Del Toro kill knotted the score. Gragg then sent down a kill, as the Lady Flames outscored PC, 16-6, down the stretch to win the first set by 10 points.
During the opening stanza, Liberty hit .189, posting four blocks to help hold the Blue Hose to a -.028 hitting percentage. Casey Goodwin posted three blocks.
The Lady Flames stormed to a 25-8, set-two victory. Liberty hit at an astounding .667 pace, with 12 kills on 18 attempts, while Presbyterian hit .143. The hosts also served up four aces during the middle session, with Clayton registering two of them.
The Blue Hose led set three, 15-13, following a kill by Tripp. Liberty bounced back, and took the lead for good at 20-16 when Vess sparked a 4-0 Lady Flames rally by scoring a kill. Vess later scored the match-clinching kill, closing out a 25-19 victory.
Liberty outhit Presbyterian, .270-.186, in set three, as Vess led all players with six kills.
Liberty will host High Point tomorrow at the Vines Center, with first serve scheduled for 2 p.m.
