Lady Eagles sit at 5-0 on regular season, take first in silver at Showdown tournament

Another fantastic week of volleyball wraps for the Liberty Lady Eagles as they end the week 5-0 on the regular season and take first place in the silver bracket at the Zizzer Varsity Showdown Volleyball Tournament.

Beginning another week of home games, the Lady Eagles welcomed the Strafford Lady Indians to the Eagle's Nest on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The Lady Eagles had a sweep with C team, JV and Varsity both coming away with victories. The C team won in one set 25-16. Sophomore Aaliyah Kramer had 3 kills and Freshman Goldsmith had 2 aces for the game. In JV action, the Lady Eagles won in two sets 25-22 and 25-23. For the game, Junior Kaylie Foster had 7 kills, Sophomore Kinzie Shoup and 6 digs and Kramer had 8 assists. The Varsity game saw 4 sets with the Lady Eagles winning 3 sets for the victory, 25-19, 23-25, 25-17 and 25-17. For the game, Junior Bre Daniels had 14 kills and 5 digs; Junior Kenzie Daniels had 8 kills, 18 digs and 2 assists; Sophomore Kaylie Wagner had 20 digs; Sophomore Bryleigh Wallace had 6 kills and 4 digs; Senior Lyla Cornman had 2 aces, 4 kills, 15 digs and 18 assists; Junior Maci Tharp had 1 ace, 8 digs and 19 assists; Junior Kinzie Tomey had 1 kill; Sophomore Korie Lind had kills and 7 digs.

"The Indians put up a great fight considering their setter was out," began Head Coach Shari Tune on the game. "She is a fantastic player and is the glue of that team. We are praying for her to get back on the floor soon. As a team we have way too many unforced errors. I like the fight to finish when the errors are piling up. However, we have got to be smoother. Our practice mentality and game mentality are not on the same page. Until they choose to mentally strive for that consistency, the errors will happen."

On Thursday, Sept. 8 the Lady Eagles hosted the Eminence Lady Redwings. In an only Varsity game, the Lady Eagles won in three sets, 25-13, 25-15 and 25-12. For the game, B. Daniels had 9 kills, 1 ace, and 4 blocks; K. Daniels had 1 ace, 5 kills, and 7 digs; Wagner had 10 digs; Wallace had 1 kill, and 2 digs; Senior Ellie Watts had 1 assist; Tharp had 1 ace, 1 kill, 11 assists, and 1 dig; Junior Kinzie Tomey had 3 kills, and 4 digs; Lind had 6 kills, 2 blocks, and 1 assist; Cornman had 3 aces, 11 assists and 8 digs.

"Our win over Eminence had the focus to make less errors," stated Coach Tune. "The girls did much better behind service line. We will continue to focus on our side out game and keeping the ball in play aggressively."

The Lady Eagles traveled to West Plains on Saturday, Sept. 10 to compete in the Lady Zizzer Showdown Volleyball Tournament. The Lady Eagles competed in the Black Bracket playing against Rolla, Thayer and Winona.

In the first match, the Lady Eagles defeated Thayer 25-14, 25-12. For the game, B. Daniels had 10 kills, and 4 blocks; Lind had 4 aces, and K. Daniels with 5 digs. In the second match of the game the Lady Eagles split with Winona losing the first set 26-27 and winning the second set 25-17. For the game, B. Daniels had 7 kills; Cornman had 6 digs, and 2 aces; K. Daniels and Tomey had 2 blocks each. In the last set of pool play, the Lady Eagles fell to Rolla 24-26 and 25-19. Wagner and K. Daniels had a combined 14 digs for the game. In the Silver Bracket, Liberty defeated Thayer 20-25, 20-25, before taking on the Licking Lady Wildcats for the championship. For the Thayer game, K. Daniels had 8 kills, Lind had 7 kills and Cornman had 15 assists. During the championship game, the Lady Eagles fell in the first set 23-25, but came back in the last two 25-21 and 25-19 claiming first place. For the game, B. Daniels had 14 kills, Cornman had 8 kills, 2 aces, 16 assists and 15 digs.

"We got thrown into a super tough pool today," Coach Tune commented about the tournament. "I'm very proud of how we finished after getting pushed to silver on a one point loss."

Next up for the Lady Eagles are two away games against Summersville and Winona.