West Virginia Downs Liberty 3-1

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia saved its season-opening profitable streak going, downing the visiting Liberty Lady Flames 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-23, 25-21), Friday at WVU Coliseum.

In a matchup of two unbeaten groups, the Mountaineers improved to 5-0 on the season, whereas the Lady Flames fell to 4-1. West Virginia is 2-0 at this weekend’s West Virginia Invitational, whereas Liberty has break up a pair of matches on the occasion.

 

Notable Numbers

• Liberty held a slight .346-.345 edge in hitting proportion and 58-55 in digs, whereas the Mountaineers led in kills (65-57), aces (6-5) and blocks (7-4).
• Four Mountaineers scored in double digits in kills, in Nina Horning (18), Cassidy Tanton (16), Trinity Sheridan (12) and Maddy McGath (10). Alexis Finvold dished up a match-high 40 assists and added three aces. Laila Ibrahim posted six blocks and Londynn Betts collected 15 digs.
• Jenna Otts scored 18 kills at a .586 tempo, whereas Paige Overcash registered 14 kills and Carly O’Brien checked in with 9 kills and 9 digs. Alison Bierwagen recorded her second double-double in a row, with 31 assists and 11 digs, whereas Zoe Hall led Liberty with three digs. 

Turning Point

• Liberty led set three, 22-18, poised to take a 2-1 match lead. However, the Mountaineers outscored the Lady Flames 5-1 down the stretch, profitable 25-23.
• West Virginia then outhit the Lady Flames .412-.194 within the fourth set, a 25-21 Mountaineer victory which sealed the match for the house group.

Quick Hits

• West Virginia leads the all-time sequence 9-4 over the Lady Flames, defeating Liberty final 12 months in Lynchburg and tonight in Morgantown.
• Otts’ .586 hitting proportion was the perfect by a Lady Flame with 12 or extra kills since Madison Blane hit .625 (16-1-24) in opposition to Louisiana Tech, Nov. 3, 2023.
• Liberty is taking part in in West Virginia for the primary time since competing within the 2013 West Virginia Invitational.

Up Next
The Lady Flames end out their time in West Virginia with a ten a.m. match tomorrow in opposition to North Dakota.