PIERSON'S CAREER NIGHT LEADS DUKES PAST FLAMES 3-1

Tuesday, September 18

Lynchburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

7-5

Liberty

8-6

James Madison

Liberty

9/19/2007 1:00:00 AM | Volleyball

Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va., Sept. 18, 2007 ? Senior libero Jena Pierson (San Antonio, Texas/James Madison) tallied a career-best 40 digs and James Madison University used a 10-0 run to come from behind in the final game to record a 3-1 victory in a non-conference women's volleyball match on Tuesday night at Liberty University.

JMU improved to 7-5 and won by game scores of 34-32, 15-30, 30-22, and 30-26. Liberty fell to 8-6. The win included JMU recovering from surrendering a 15-5 lead in game one and also coming back from a 22-13 deficit in game four with a 10-0 run to win that set. The win was also JMU's fifth in its last six matches. It was the team's first win in a match of more than three games and just the third match this season to go more than three games.

Pierson's 40 digs were a career high after entering the match averaging 5.17 digs per game. She raised that average to 5.65 with her performance. Pierson's previous career high was 38 in her freshman season against VCU. Her season best was 28 on August 31 at Davidson. She raised her JMU career record to 1,717.

Fellow senior Allyson Halls (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy) tied her season highs for kills and blocks with 18 and six respectively. It was her second straight match with 18 kills. Her seven digs were a season best for the middle blocker. She also had an ace for 23 total points. Fellow middle Michelle Johnson (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos) had 12 kills.

Freshman Lindsay Callahan (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) tied her career high with 15 kills. She added six digs. Junior setter Lauren Miles (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Prep) had a season-high 51 assists and added eight digs. Sophomore Kaitlin McFaddin (Natural Bridge Station, Va./Rockbridge) had 11 kills and two blocks. Sophomore Stephanie Waters (Gainesville, Fla./P.K. Yonge) tallied 10 digs.

Liberty hit .186 as a team, bettering JMU's .179 rate. Sophomore Chelaine McCarty (Houston, Ala.) had 15 kills and hit .382 with six blocks for the Flames. Freshman Nicki Scripko (