Volleyball Takes Second – Plays in Key Games this Week
By: Lisa Deaver, Head Volleyball Coach
After taking third in the North Texas Classic Volleyball Tournament earlier this month, the Warrior volleyball team took second place among 32 teams at the Argyle Invitational this past weekend. Congratulations also to junior Betsy Smith who was named to the All-Tournament Team!
In the tournament on Friday, Aug. 27, Liberty swept Wichita Falls, Whitesboro, and Byron Nelson, and the team advanced to the gold bracket for Saturday’s play. Statistical leaders on Friday included junior Betsy Smith with 28 kills and 51 digs, junior Abby Deaver with 28 kills, senior Sarah Stanley with 57 digs, junior Cassie Okland with 20 aces, juniors Ashley Prince and Abbie Pinkston with six ace blocks, and junior Sophie Asprey with 93 assists.
On Saturday in the first round of play, the Warriors defeated Princeton in three straight games with Smith and Prince leading the way with eight kills each, Deaver adding eight aces from the service line, Prince and Pinkston combining for six ace blocks, and Stanley contributing 12 digs.
Next, the team prevailed in a long, five-game match versus Argyle. Smith tallied 20 kills, 24 digs, and three aces in the effort, while Prince and Deaver added 14 kills each. Stanley had a good defensive game with 28 digs. Okland added 18 digs of her own, and Asprey spread out the offense with 50 assists en route to the 25-20, 25-23, 14-25, 21-25, 15-11 victory.
Facing Prosper in the championship match, Deaver, Prince, and Smith each tallied 11 kills, while Pinkston added eight of her own to go along with her three ace blocks. Stanley paced the defensive effort with 30 digs, and Okland and Smith each contributed 20 more to the total. Asprey totaled 44 assists, and Prince added three aces to the effort. The girls fell short after a hard-fought, two-hour match to take second place in the tournament.
Today, Tuesday, Aug. 31, both JV teams play at 5 p.m. at Denton Ryan High School, followed by the varsity at 6 p.m.
District opens this Thursday, Sept. 2, at home versus Nolan Catholic with both JV teams playing at 5 p.m., and the varsity slated to begin play at 6 p.m. All Liberty families are invited to come and cheer for the Warriors.