ASHEVILLE, N.C. – For the second straight season, the Liberty Flames are Big South Conference Volleyball champions. The top-seeded Flames earned their fifth league title and fourth in this decade with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over third-seeded Coastal Carolina Sunday afternoon.

Liberty won the match 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20. The Flames improved their overall record to 25-8 and will play next in the NCAA Tournament. Coastal Carolina finishes its season with a 27-7 overall record.

The Flames were led by Big South Tournament MVP Kallie Corbin. The junior setter had seven kills, 46 assists, 21 digs and three blocks on the day. Joining her on the all-tournament team were teammates Karyl Bacon and Nicki Scripko. Bacon registered a double-double with 15 kills and 16 digs. Scripko had 11 kills on the day.

The Chanticleers were led by all-tournament performers Brett Starbuck and Megan Bickford. Starbuck had 21 digs and two service aces. Bickford finished with 17 kills and hit .481 for the match. Chelsy Kimes added 14 kills for CCU.

The Flames led from start to finish in the first set but had to hold off several Coastal Carolina runs. Four serving errors really hurt the Chanticleers. Nelson had four kills in the first set. Leading 17-16, Liberty scored three straight points off the serving of Nelson to push to a 20-16 lead. Coastal got to 20-18 but kills from Bacon and Nelson helped get three more points for a 23-18 lead. Chelaine McCarthy finished the set off with a rousing kill to give the Flames a 25-21win.

The second set had Coastal Carolina coming out strong and racing to a 7-1 lead. Kimes had three kills during an early 6-0 run. Liberty fought back and eventually took an 18-16 lead as McCarthy had two straight kills. The Chanticleers roared back with four straight points as the Flames had three hitting errors during the run and led 20-18.

CCU led 22-19 before Liberty made one more run. The Flames scored four straight points as Nelson and Bacon recorded kills plus a block from Bacon put the defending champs up 23-22. A kill from Kimes tied the match one more time at 23-23. Scripko and Bacon teamed up for back-to-back kills to give Liberty a 2-0 lead at 25-23.

Coastal Carolina battled back to win the third set. The Chants led 19-15 before another Liberty rally knotted things up at 19-19. Nelson had three kills during the run. Coastal would not be denied in this set as they got two kills from Nyhof to lead 21-19. The Flames close to one three times but finally a kill from Bickford got the Chants back in the match as they won the set 25-23.

Liberty quickly took charge of the fourth set. Bacon and Nelson combined for seven early kills to get the Flames in front 13-4. The Chanticleers rallied and kept clawing their way back and got to 20-18 on a kill from Russell. Liberty responded with three straight points as it got a kill from Scripko and a block solo from Nelson to put the Flames in front 23-18.

Leading 23-20, the Flames put the match and the title away with kills from Ashley Webber and Bacon to give Liberty the win in the fourth set, 25-20.

Liberty Head Coach Shane Pinder
“Once again we were able to get some key points and key times. Our kids showed a tremendous amount of resolve to get the job done.  Kallie Corbin had a tremendous match, just like she has all weekend and this year. We got big plays from Karyl Bacon, especially in the second set with her blocking. “We played well but we had to because Coastal Carolina gave us everything we wanted. They disrupted on and made us earn everything we got.”

Coastal Carolina Head Coach Kristen Bauer
“We gave a great effort but had a lot to overcome today.  Liberty just made big plays when it had to make them. I thought Liberty was outstanding on defense today.”

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Lindsay Raus – High Point
Kelsey Benorden – UNC Asheville
Brett Starbuck – Coastal Carolina
Megan Bickford – Coastal Carolina
Karyl Bacon – Liberty
Kallie Corbin – Liberty
Nicki Scripko – Liberty
MVP – Kallie Corbin (Liberty)