Changing of the Guard — four seniors bid farewell

Liberty volleyball bid a fond farewell to four seniors Saturday as Rebecca Warren, Courtney Boggs, Kelly Haseman and Courtney Cooper played their last regular season games in the Vines Center.

Together the four players have been crucial in what has been one of the best four year periods of Flames volleyball in Liberty history. Liberty posted an 84-43 record over the last four years, including an impressive 49-9 record in the Big South. Under their leadership, the program has posted three straight 20 win seasons. Each player was given a bouquet of flowers and framed photo in a pre-game presentation.

On the court, the Flames executed a nearly flawless match, winning in three straight sets (25-18, 25-22, 25-21) to send their senior class out with their 35th career home victory. The Lady Flames’ offensive output far exceeded the season average in every calculable category as five different players recorded at least eight kills. The team’s .279 hitting average nearly doubled the previous season average of .181.

Despite it being a night to honor seniors, the underclassmen made a point of showcasing the young up and coming talent that will be replacing the graduating players. Of the five players with at least eight kills, four of them were underclassmen.

Freshman Melissa Racz paced the group putting down 12 kills with a .500 average. Racz has recorded double digit kills in four of her last five games, including the last three.

On the defensive side of the ball, junior Loren Thomas continued her record setting season, adding ten total blocks over the weekend to bring her season total to 131, which sets a new school record for the rally scoring era.

With the win, Liberty moves to 11-1 in conference and solidifies their position atop the Big South. The Lady Flames will close out its regular season on the road against Gardner-Webb and UNC Asheville next weekend. The Big South Championship Tournament will begin Nov. 17 in Charleston, S.C.