BLACKSBURG, Va. - UNC Greensboro dropped its season-opener to two-time defending Big South champion Liberty, 3-0, on Friday afternoon in the opening match of the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational. The Flames defeated the Spartans, 25-7, 25-21, 25-17, in Cassell Coliseum on the campus of Virginia Tech.
True freshman Arielle Lysacek led the Spartans with a team-high 24 assists and junior Billi Baker led UNCG on the offensive end with 10 kills. Freshman Olivia Humphries contributed nine kills and a team-high .333 hitting percentage.
Nicki Scripko paced the Flames with 12 kills and Karyl Bacon added 11 kills while Kallie Corbin had a match-high 36 assists.
UNCG took the first point in the first game on a Baker kill, but the Flames responded by taking 18 of the next 19 points to take an 18-2 lead. The two teams would trade the final points in the game as Liberty took the game, 25-7.
In the second game, the Spartans fought back after trailing early 9-7 to take an 11-9 lead. The two teams would end up knotted at 18 later in the game before Liberty won seven of the final ten points en route to winning the game, 25-21. The teams combined for 12 ties and five lead changes in the game.
The third game started quite similar to the second game as the two teams traded points early. After trailing 11-9 midway through the game, UNCG rattled off four of the next five points to take a 13-12 lead on a kill by Baker. Liberty took the next eight points in the game to take a commanding 20-13 lead as they sealed the match by taking the game, 25-17.
The Spartans return to the court Saturday afternoon as they take on Virginia Tech at 12 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum. UNCG will complete its play at the Hokie Invitational at 5 p.m. on Saturday against Montana.
AGATE
Liberty def. UNC Greensboro: 25-7, 25-21, 25-17
UNC Greensboro (0-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Billi Baker 10-0-0; Olivia Humphries 9-1-1; Emily Lindborg 7-0-1; Luciana Shafer 5-0-0; Alissa Beaudway 1-0-0; Caley Redden 0-0-1; Totals 32-1-2.0. (Assists) - Arielle Lysacek 24. (Dig leaders) - Catherine Hanners 11; Kayleigh Knerr 10
Liberty (1-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - SCRIPKO, Nicki 12-0-1; BACON, Karyl 11-1-0; McCARTY, Chelaine 9-0-1; PACELLA, Brittany 8-0-1; CORBIN, Kallie 6-0-1; SANDERS, Kirstyn 3-0-2; Totals 49-1-4.0. (Assists) - CORBIN, Kallie 36. (Dig leaders) - HASEMAN, Kelly 23; BACON, Karyl 16; PACELLA, Brittany 10
Site: Blacksburg, Va. (Cassell Coliseum)
Date: Aug 28, 2009 Attend: Time: 1:19
Referees: BJ Willard, Terry Martin
Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational
Game 1
- UNCG -
