By Rob Potter
LIBERTY — The Liberty girls’ varsity volleyball team is continuing to make strides in its first year of competition.
On Monday afternoon, the Lady Indians swept the S.S. Seward Lady Spartans, 25-10, 25-11, 25-13 in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division IV match.
After taking the first set, Liberty (6-11, 6-11 Div. IV) took a 7-3 lead in the second set on a kill by junior outside hitter/middle blocker Krista Nash.
Moments later, a service point by Justice Muniz-Dingevan pushed the Lady Indians’ advantage to 18-9.
Heather Bitjeman served three straight points as Liberty closed out the set with a 7-2 scoring run.
An ace by Lindsey Dunn helped Seward (1-14, 1-14 Div. VI) jump out to a 4-0 lead in the third set.
After the Lady Indians rallied to even the score twice, Dunn served another ace to give the Lady Spartans a 7-5 advantage.
Liberty’s Jessie Miceli made a block to give her team a 9-7 lead.
Senior libero Kayla Campbell served two straight aces to help the Lady Indians win the set, and therefore the match, with a 16-6 scoring run.
This is also the first season in which S.S. Seward has had a varsity volleyball team.
“It’s a learning year,” Seward Coach Jennifer Sirico said.
Junior defensive specialist Sharon Benzenburg paced the Lady Indians with 14 service points, six digs and five aces.
Muniz-Dingevan finished the match with 10 service points, seven blocks, four aces and two kills, while Miceli had five blocks, three assists and two kills.
Dunn led the Lady Spartans with four points, two aces and one kill.
Cory Tiger added three kills and a block for Seward.
Liberty Coach Lori Kachelmeyer was very pleased with her team’s performance.
“We’re definitely showing improvement,” she said. “These girls are working together very well.”
Notes: On Wednesday afternoon, Liberty hosted the James I. O’Neill Lady Raiders in an OCIAA Division IV match which completed the regular season for both teams.
O’Neill swept to victory, 25-19 25-10, 25-23.
With the win, O’Neill improved its record to 16-4 overall and 16-2 in Div. IV.
Liberty finished the season with a 6-12 overall record.
Leading the Lady Raiders to the win were Jackie DiLorenzo (12 digs, nine assists and four service points), Samantha Jarvis (eight service points, eight kills, six blocks and three aces) and Casey Crill (five service points, three digs, three kills and two aces).
For Liberty, Miceli had four blocks and three kills, Brenna O’Malley recorded eight assists and Nash registered four aces and two kills.
The seeding meeting for the upcoming Section IX Volleyball Tournament was slated to be held last night.
Following Monday’s win against Seward, Kachelmeyer said that she intended to send in the necessary paperwork to the selection committee so that the Lady Indians would be considered for a berth in the Class C tourney.
“We’ll see what happens,” she said.