Field hockey earns shutout victory over Temple on senior day 1-0

The Lady Flames women’s volleyball team bounced back at Liberty Arena on Sunday, Oct. 16, after a recent conference loss to Jacksonville to hold on and defeat the North Florida Ospreys, 3-2.   

After a convincing 25-12 win in the first set, the Flames’ lead quickly evaporated as North Florida proceeded to win the next two sets, 17-25 and 21-25, respectively.  

The fourth set started back and forth, with each team trading momentum and lead changes aplenty. The set produced seven total ties and three total lead changes. However, it would be the Flames reciprocating the win, as an ace from Delaney Dilfer sent the game to a fifth and deciding set.  

 “It’s so easy to play less aggressive and more timid when it’s tight,” Dilfer said. “Fifth sets are very hard, and we (practice) them all the time, but I could just tell the team wanted it, and I’m so proud of all the girls.” 

The final set would see the Flames snag the lead early and never look back, starting off the set with a five-point run and ultimately winning the set by a final score of 15-7. 

Junior Trinity Watts was impressive in the winning effort, posting 11 kills and 10 digs. 

“Going into the final set, we talked about being aggressive and … feeling like your team has your back, no matter what,” Watts said.  

Liberty outhit North Florida .243-.189 for the match, as well as leading in aces and digs. Head Coach Trevor Johnson believed the grittiness of the Flames set them apart not just in the final set, but throughout the duration of the game.  

“I felt like our team responded (and) said, ‘Enough is enough.’” Johnson said.

For the Flames, the hard-fought affair was their seventh match ending in five sets out of the 20 games played this year. The team improved to 3-4 in five set matches.

The Flames move to 13-7 overall on the season and 6-2 in the ASUN. The team’s improvement comes just at the right time, as the Lady Flames approach a tough postseason stretch. 

“I think this is a really tough conference,” Watts said. “Everybody is beating up on everybody … For conference, we really have a strong shot of going far this year, and we have the desire for it too.” 

The Flames will fly down to Florida for a road trip starting Oct. 21, where they will first face the Stetson Hatters before traveling to Florida Gulf Coast the next night in a duel with the Eagles as the push for the ASUN title ramps up.  

 Palermo is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on Twitter