Women’s volleyball overcomes deficit to beat UNC Asheville 3-2

• Liberty women’s volleyball maintains confidence in their abilities to pull ahead of UNC Asheville in the fourth and fifth sets.
• Liberty honors 1997 Big South championship Flames volleyball team at game, and current members receive prayer and advice from them.

After trailing two sets to one, the Liberty University women’s volleyball team (5-11) fought the deficit to prevail over UNC Asheville (6-9), winning sets four and five in the Vines Center Saturday, Sept. 30.

During the fourth set, with the match hanging in the balance, Liberty sophomore middle blocker Anna Gragg, assisted by senior setter Anna Willey, delivered the final kill to keep the Lady Flames alive. With the match tied at two sets apiece, Liberty capitalized on the opportunity, winning the final set 15-10.

“It wasn’t a perfect match for us,” head coach Shane Pinder said. “But it was a match that tested our resolve.”

Twenty-six tie scores and 12 lead changes characterized the match. Led by Gragg, who finished with 18 kills, the Lady Flames finished with 65 kills and six team blocks. Senior middle blocker Sirena Vorster and junior right side hitter Lydia Smith each contributed with eight kills, while senior outside hitter Gabriele Vess finished with 11.

For the Bulldogs, junior outside hitter Cara Guthrie capitalized on nearly half her kills, collecting a total of 21. Sophomore right side hitter Ansley Rooks pitched in with 11 kills and setters Carter Kennedy and Kailey Hackett collectively produced 47 assists.

“Asheville is sneaky dangerous,” Pinder said. “We had to stay patient, but all in all, we did what we needed to do.”

After the second set, Liberty recognized the 1997 women’s volleyball team, which won a Big South title and went on to compete against Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament. According to libertyflames.com, the 1997 team claimed the first of the program’s seven Big South tournament titles.

“Most of that team is here today,” Pinder said. “Before we came out, they came into the locker room and addressed us, then we finished with prayer together.”

After losing the third set 25-15, the Lady Flames barely escaped defeat in the fourth set, winning 25-22. Early in the fourth set, Liberty forced the Bulldogs to call a timeout after scoring three straight points. The Lady Flames sustained a comfortable lead until the final points of the fourth set, when Kennedy capitalized on a kill followed by attacking errors by Gragg and Vess.

Despite the Bulldogs’ relentless aggression, the Lady Flames remained composed, relying on their confidence to deliver a win. They needed one more point to push the match to set five.

With the score at 24-22, Liberty called a timeout.

“Our backs were against the wall,” Pinder said. “I thought at that point, UNC Asheville had better energy that was igniting their defense. It was now or never.”

UNC Asheville sophomore Sheridan Salisbury served. After receiving the pass, Willey comfortably set Gragg, who delivered the kill Liberty desperately needed.

“Even when things weren’t going super well, we battled and fought to the fifth set,” Willey said.

Willey, who finished with a match high of 32 assists, said she had full confidence in Gragg as the game came down to the wire.

“Being able to play with her last year, we just have a connection on the slide ball,” Willey said. “Even if she doesn’t put it away, I know she will get the next one.”

After winning the fourth set, the Lady Flames sustained their composure in the final set, winning 15-10.

According to Willey, the team has been working on higher hitting efficiencies. One of Liberty’s goals during the game was hitting balls past the Bulldogs blocks.

The Bulldogs finished with nine team blocks, three more than the Lady Flames.

“We all know that we’re talented,” Gragg said. “As long as we have confidence in each other, we won’t overthink.”

After several games on the road against Radford, Campbell and High Point, the Lady Flames will host Winthrop Friday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Vines Center.

“No matter if I’m playing good or bad, if I can feed into my teammates with energy and positivity, that’s kind of my goal,” Gragg said.