Volleyball sweeps Winthrop

The Lady Flames volleyball team (22-5, 9-0 Big South) swept the Winthrop Eagles (15-10, 5-4 Big South) in three straight sets, continuing their 13-match winning streak Oct. 25 at the Vines Center. The Lady Flames won the sets 25-17, 25-17 and 25-22 to beat the Lady Eagles.

The Lady Flames took control early in the first set with a 15-10 lead. The teams fought hard until the end, but the Lady Flames earned the win. They then went on to win the next two sets to win the game. Liberty outhit Winthrop .188-.112 and led in digs 45-28, according to liberty.edu/flames.

With nine kills, freshman Sirena Vorster led the team. Redshirt junior Caroline Douglas contributed seven kills and nine digs, and junior Jade Vorster and freshman Hannah Weidner contributed eight and six kills, respectively.

Increasing her solo blocks total to 26 this weekend, Jade Vorster broke the previous single-season rally-scoring program record of 25, set by Loren Thomas in 2011, according to liberty.edu/flames.

Between the momentum the aforementioned players brought to the game and the dominance of the Lady Flames defense, they took the first two sets easily. After the break, the Lady Flames found themselves down 4-0, but the deficit did not last long. Caroline Douglass had a kill that changed the game. The Lady Flames took their first lead in the third set at 16-15. As the game went back and forth, the Lady Flames fought hard to the finish, winning 25-22.

Junior setter Caila Stapleton led the team with 26 assists and eight digs. Stapleton has totaled 1,023 assists this season, becoming the sixth Lady Flame since 2001 with 1,000 or more assists in a season, according to liberty.edu/flames.

The Lady Flames will travel to play conference rival Radford Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.

DIXON is a sports reporter.