Box Score

RADFORD, Va. – Emily Carlin (Downington, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and Savannah Cantrell (Jacksonville Beach, Fla./Nease) recorded career-highs in kills, but Radford was upended in five sets by Liberty in the Big South opener for both squads, Friday evening from the Dedmon Center.

Carlin posted her first double-double of the season with a match-best 19 kills and 10 digs. Cantrell chipped in with nine kills and three block assists.

The Lady Flames (6-9, 1-0 Big South) broke a 10-10 tie in game five with a 4-0 spurt and closed out the match with a 15-11 victory.

Liberty ended the match on its 41st block assist of the night and finished the match with 20.5 blocks. Loren Thomas and Jade Craycraft paced the Lady Flames with 12 and 10 block assists, respectively. Thomas and Lillie Happel each tallied a team best 11 kills with Craycraft added 39 assists.

Defensively, Radford's Rachel Brummitt (Plano, Texas/Plano West) lead everyone with 30 digs, her second 30-dig match of the season. Freshman Rachel Wiechecki (Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy) added 17 digs. Courtney Cooper dig 21 times for Liberty.

In game one, Radford jumped out to an 11-5 advantage and never relinquished the lead. After the Flames cut the deficit to one, 18-17, the Highlanders closed on a 7-2 spurt to take the set, 25-19.
 
Like Radford in the opener, Liberty led from start to finish, including by as many as 10 on several occasions before evening the match with a 25-16 win. In addition to their fast start, the Flames connected on 34.5 percent (14-29) of their swings in the second.
 
Carlin led all players at the break with seven kills on 16 attempts.
 
After Radford used a 5-1 run in the third to make it a one-point contest, 11-10, the Flames outscored the Highlanders 14-7 the rest of the way to take a two games to one lead.
 
With the scored tied 8-8 in game four, Radford grabbed control with a 12-6 streak before forcing a fifth and decisive game with a 25-19 triumph.
 
The Highlanders return to action Tuesday evening with a 7 p.m. contest at North Carolina Central. Liberty will enjoy a week break before playing host to UNC Asheville on Sept. 30.