LIBERTY ESCAPES WITH 3-2 VICTORY OVER RADFORD

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LYNCHBURG, Va. – Rachel Wiechecki recorded her 15^th double-double of the season behind 17 kills and 17 digs, but Liberty was able to outlast Radford, 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 15-9), Friday night in Big South volleyball action inside the Vines Center.

Joining the Wilmington, Del. native in double figures were Cheyanne James and Emma Deininger with 13 kills apiece for the Highlanders (18-9, 7-3 Big South). James charted her ninth double-double of the season with 15 digs, while Deininger added six blocks. Deininger has 102 block assists for the season, which is a program record. Wiechecki also notched a season-high-tying five blocks.

Jena Braden tallied her ninth double-double of the season as well, providing 34 assists and 15 digs. Rachel Flores supplied 13 assists. Kelby Jackson dropped in a season-high four aces.

Caroline Douglas paced four Lady Flames (7-16, 6-4 Big South) in double figures offensively with 14 kills. Melissa Racz (12), Lillie Happel (10) and Jade Craycraft (10) were the others. Happel notched a double-double with 12 digs, while Craycraft had a triple-double with 42 assists and 11 digs in addition to her kill total. Gabrielle Shipe charted a match-best 22 digs. Kendle Rollins blocked 10 RU attacks.

Wiechecki's six kills guided Radford to the 25-23 victory in the opening frame. After the Highlanders established a 6-3 advantage in the early going, Liberty fought back to tie the frame at 9. Still tied at 12, a Wiechecki blast ignited a 4-0 surge to vault RU on top, 16-12. With the Highlanders ahead, 20-17, the Lady Flames answered with their own 4-0 rally to grab a 21-20 lead. Facing its first deficit of the set, Radford responded by claiming five of the final eight points to earn the 1-0 edge.

Five aces by the Highlanders were not enough to fend off a furious Liberty rally in the second stanza as the hosts pulled off a 25-23 come-from-behind win. Trailing 3-1, Radford used a 6-0 run to obtain a 7-3 favor. During that stretch, Jackson delivered three aces.

After Carson Widener's ace made it 12-7, the Lady Flames were prompted to burn a timeout. The timeout proved to settle Liberty as the squad eventually tied the set at 16 following a Happel rocket. Behind 22-20, the Lady Flames utilized a 5-1 rally to square the match at intermission.

Liberty used its momentum to race out to a 7-1 advantage in the third stanza. The Lady Flames extended their lead to 18-9 before Radford snatched the next three points to cut its deficit to six. Liberty's lead was dwindled to as little as four on four occasions down the stretch, but was able to hold on for the 25-19 triumph.

Already ahead 16-15 in the fourth set, the Highlanders embarked on a 3-0 spurt to build their largest lead at 19-15. However, a Douglas swing on the next rally ignited a 5-0 streak to help the Lady Flames reclaim the lead at 20-19. Down 22-21, a Liberty service error and a block assist by Deininger and James pushed RU in front, 23-22. Racz tied it with her kill on the next rally, but two huge missiles from Jordan Watson forced a decisive fifth set.

Like the third frame, the Lady Flames got out to a quick lead at 5-1. The Highlanders never flinched as they reeled off the next four points to even the score. After Deininger unleashed a winner to pull Radford within 7-6, Liberty chalked up four points in a row to expand its lead to 11-6. Wiechecki ripped a kill to close the gap to 12-9, but the Lady Flames scored the final three points to secure the victory.

The Highlanders return to action next Friday, November 8 against Campbell. First serve with the Camels is set for 7 p.m. from the Dedmon Center.

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