Dukes Fall 3-1 to Liberty

Tuesday, September 2

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

2-2

Liberty

3-1

Liberty

James Madison

9/2/2014 8:14:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Senior middle blocker Lizzy Briones (Siloam Springs, Ark./Siloam Springs) knocked down 17 kills with a .382 hitting percentage as the James Madison volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to Liberty on Tuesday night.

The Dukes earned the 25-21 victory in set one, but Liberty picked up three straight sets (25-23, 25-22, 25-14) to win the match.

The first set was hard-fought, as the teams traded points for 11 consecutive rallies at one point. Liberty used a four-point run to take an 11-9 lead, but the Dukes responded with four consecutive points of their own, highlighted by a pair of Briones kills, to go up 13-11. After the Flames tied things at 14-14, JMU used a 6-2 run to go up 20-16 and take the lead for good. Liberty would cut the lead to three on three different occasions, but would get no closer, as the Dukes closed out the set, 25-21.

In the second set, the teams were evenly-matched again, racking up nine ties. The Dukes used a 4-0 run to tie things at 11-11, but did not lead the set at any point after. The teams tied at 23-23 before Liberty scored two straight points to take the set, 25-23. JMU led for much of the third set, before the Flames used a 7-2 run to take a 19-17 lead. The Dukes came back and an ace from junior Sarah Patterson put them up 20-19, but Liberty went on a 6-2 run to close out the set, 25-22.

The final set saw the Flames take an early lead and pull away, using an 11-1 run in the middle of the frame to eventually capture the set 25-14.

Sophomore right setter Janey Goodman (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) posted 12 kills on the night for the Dukes. On defense, Briones and sophomore outside hitter Kate Whitmire (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) tied for match-high honors with four blocks each, while freshman Taylor Austin (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) posted a match-high 20 digs. JMU (2-2) put down 48 kills on the evening and posted seven team blocks.

The Dukes will be back in action this weekend when they play host to the JMU Invitational. JMU opens play on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. against Hampton, before taking on Southeastern Louisiana at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and George Washington later that evening at 7:30 p.m.