BOX SCORE

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Radford raced out to a 2-0 lead, but first-place Liberty stormed back and rallied past the Highlanders in five sets (23-25, 29-25, 25-20, 25-16, 15-5), Friday evening in Big South Volleyball action from the Vines Center.

Senior Leigh Myers (Baton Rouge, La./The Dunham School) and freshman Rachel Wiechecki (Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy) each recorded double-doubles for the Highlanders (11-14, 5-5 Big South). Lillie Happell registered a double-double of 12 kills and 13 digs for the Lady Flames (14-11, 9-1).

Myers dished out 23 assists and also recorded a season-high 10 digs for her second collegiate double-double. Wiechecki posted a match-best 14 kills and added 11 digs for her team-high fifth double-double of the season.

Joining the duo defensively with double-figure digs were freshman Rachel Brummitt (Plano, Texas/Plano West) and sophomore Emily Carlin (Downington, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) with 20 and 13 digs, respectively. Adding 11 kills apieces, junior Emily Hayes (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) and freshman Emma Deininger (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven)

In a tight first set, back-to-back kills by Wiechecki and Deininger completed a set-ending 4-1 spurt to claim a 25-23 triumph. Wiechecki found the floor five times in the opening set.

Radford raced out to a 6-2 lead in set two and after Liberty came back to tie it a 13-apiece, the Highlanders drummed off four straight points and went on to grab a 25-19 win and a 2-0 advantage.

The Lady Flames, behind a 6-0 run, pulled away from an early back-and-forth start and led the rest of the way to get back into the match with a 25-20 third-set victory.

Liberty took command of another close battle as it closed out the fourth set with a 9-1 run to even the match and force a fifth and deciding set.

The momentum carried into the fifth as the Lady Flames, who hit .500, opened up a 7-2 lead and did not look back to complete the comeback.

Melissa Racz matched her teammate Happell with 12 kills, while Jade Craycraft posted 40 assists, seven kills and six digs. Loren Thomas was just shy of a double-double with 11 kills and a match-best nine block assists.

Radford returns to action on Nov. 4 as it hosts High Point at 7 p.m.