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Liberty University
5-7
VCU
8-6
Liberty Drops 3-1 Decision to Rams in VCU Invitational Title Match
9/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
In the championship match of the VCU Invitational, the host VCU Rams extended their winning streak to five matches by edging Liberty, 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 13-25, 25-22) on Saturday at the Siegel Center.
The Rams (8-6) won all three of their matches this weekend, winning the title, while Liberty (5-7) went 2-1 to finish as runner-up.
Liberty was represented on the all-tournament team by Anna Gragg and Sydney Morris. VCU's Rebekah Strange was named tournament MVP, while Jasmin Sneed and Vicky Giommarini joined Strange on the all-tournament squad.
For the match, VCU held a slight .119-.113 edge in hitting percentage. The Rams also led 53-41 in kills, 63-62 in digs and 5-4 in aces. Liberty posted a season-high 17 blocks, the team's most blocks in a single match since recording 17 blocks against High Point, Nov. 8, 2013.
VCU's Giommarini led all players with 17 kills, while Tyler Sroufe dished out a match-high 38 assists. Sahbria McLetchie scored nine kills, while Strange collected a match-high 18 digs. Alica Kandler collected 16 digs.
For Liberty, Gabrielle Vess and Gragg shared the team high with 10 kills each. Gragg and Sirena Vorster both recorded seven blocks, while Morris scored eight kills. Anna Willey dished out 36 assists, adding 11 digs and six blocks. Margaret Latchford collected 16 digs, while Casey Goodwin registered five blocks.
The Rams appeared to be in control of the first set, leading 22-17 after a Liberty service error. However, the Lady Flames scored four straight points, including back-to-back blocks. Trailing, 24-21, Liberty fought off three set-point chances, before Jasmin Sneed put VCU ahead, 25-24, with a kill. A Lady Flames error then sealed the set for the hosts.
Liberty held a slight .091-.073 advantage in hitting percentage in set one, as the Lady Flames also posted four blocks. Giommarini scored five kills for VCU in the first frame.
The Lady Flames led set two, 14-13, when Goodwin and Vorster posted a combo block. McLetchie then fueled a 7-0 VCU run with three kills. Liberty chipped away at the deficit, drawing to within two, 23-21, on a Willey-Vorster block. The Rams scored the final two points, taking set two, 25-21.
Neither team hit well during the second session, with VCU at .062 and Liberty, -.095. The Lady Flames added four blocks in set two.
The visitors posted a resounding 25-13 victory in set three to extend the match. Liberty used a 13-2 run to build the lead to 15-4. The Lady Flames posted four blocks, outhitting the Rams, .355-.094. Vess scored five kills for Liberty during the third set.
VCU surged out to a 17-11 lead in set four, as Jasmin Sneed and Sroufe combined for a block. Liberty went on a 7-3 run, capped by a Payton Carter ace to trim the deficit to 20-18. After six rally points, Kandler scored a kill for a 24-21 VCU lead. Gragg kept the match alive with her 10th kill, before Giommarini clinched the victory for the hosts, 25-23.
Despite five blocks from the Lady Flames, VCU hit .256 in the final session, compared to .167 for Liberty.
The Lady Flames open Big South play next Friday at High Point, taking on the Panthers at 7 p.m. at the Millis Center. High Point was voted first in the Big South preseason coaches' poll, while Liberty was predicted to finish in second place.
