Lady Flames hit 20-win mark for sixth straight year

The Lady Flames volleyball team was able to notch their fifth straight victory and third straight road win during a visit against Campbell University (25-19, 30-28, 26-24).

The Flames were 10-2 in the conference heading into the match, while the Camels were 0-12.

Liberty took the lead in the first set 21-13, but Campbell fought back, putting the score at 21-19. The Lady Flames were not going to let this one slip away, scoring the next four points and ending with a kill from Lillie Happel.

The second set was close as Liberty led 20-15, but Campbell fought its way back on a 9-0 run, gaining the lead (24-20). Liberty came back with a kill from Jade Craycraft to tie the score at 24-all. The teams rallied, but the Flames finished on top, winning the set 30-28.

“In the second set, we gave up about a nine-point run late that put them up 24-21,” Head Coach Shane Pinder said. “They had us in a tough spot, but our kids showed great resolve and came back and tied it up and ended up winning a tight one.”

Liberty and Campbell were tied 20-all heading into the end of set three. With help from Caroline Douglas with a kill, the Flames won the set 26-24.

The Lady Flames out hit Campbell, .213-.168, in the match. Liberty posted eight blocks to Campbell’s six. Happel led the Flames in kills on the night with 16 and also added 11 digs. Douglas scored 11 kills, while Loren Thomas had eight. Craycraft totaled 39 assists and 10 digs.

Gabrielle Shipe collected 15 digs, while Becca Haraf and Ansley Gebben had 13 digs a piece.

“(Women’s volleyball) is another special team at Liberty, with a special group of young student-athletes that at the end of the day, are striving to become Champions for Christ at Liberty University,” Pinder said. “There is not a better place to be able to do that but at Liberty University. I’m really proud of them and of Liberty athletics as a whole.”

The Lady Flames will close the regular season with two conference home matches, hosting University of North Carolina Asheville Friday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. and Gardner-Webb Saturday, Nov. 10, at noon. Liberty will honor its senior volleyball players at Saturday’s match against Gardner-Webb.