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6 PM
Volleyball
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Saturday, September 19
Winston-Salem, N.C.
10:00 a.m.
Duke University
3
vs
2
Liberty
Duke Rallies for 3-2 Win Over Liberty
9/19/2009 1:30:00 PM | Volleyball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Led by a 57-assist effort from sophomore setter Kellie Catanach, the Duke volleyball team came from behind to win three straight sets en route to a 3-2 (25-27, 22-25, 25-16, 29-27, 15-13) win over Liberty at the Black and Gold Challenge Saturday morning in Reynolds Gym.
After dropping the first two sets, Duke (10-2, 1-0 ACC) rebounded to win the third set 25-16 and came back to win set four 29-27 to tie the match at 2-2. Catanach was clutch in the come-from-behind victory, tossing up 18 assists in the two-point, fourth-set win before rallying the Blue Devils with four assists and a kill in the 15-13 fifth-set win.
The 57 assists were a season-high for Catanach, who directed Duke to a .279 hitting percentage and saw 45.6 percent of her sets go down for kills. Catanach fed classmate Sophia Dunworth a team-high 36 attacks, 16 of which she converted to kills for a .389 hitting percentage. Dunworth, who leads Duke with 119 kills and a .347 hitting percentage, hit .389 for the second straight match and over .300 for the 10th time this season.
Duke also got double-digit kills from junior middle blocker Becci Burling (13), freshman outside hitter Megan Hendrickson (12) and senior outside hitter Rachael Moss (11). Hendrickson's 12 kills were a career high, as was her .455 hitting percentage. Burling, meanwhile, picked up four blocks, bringing her season total to 48, which leads the team.
Moss also collected her team-leading fourth double-double of the season with 11 digs and came up big with two crucial kills in the 15-13 fifth-set victory. With Duke trailing 13-11 in the final frame, Catanach went to Moss who connected for two consecutive kills to tie the game at 13-13. With the momentum swung back in Duke's favor, the Blue Devils forced a Flames attack error and then went to sophomore Amanda Robertson, who locked up the win with her eighth kill of the match.
Duke had trouble early getting around Liberty's (5-6) block and hit into 13 for the match. Loren Thomas and Kirstyn Sanders had six and five stops, respectively, while Chelaine McCarty and Nicki Scripko also reached double digits in the category.
Scripko and Liberty libero Kelly Haseman also gave Duke trouble on the defensive end, combining for 34 digs. Scripko also finished with a team-high 19 kills for a double-double, but was most effective defensively, adding 29 errorless service receptions.
Duke, however, was able to counter with freshman Nailah Waterfield, who finished with a team-high 15 digs. Waterfield came up especially big in the 29-27 fourth-set victory, collecting five digs and six errorless service receptions in that frame.
Now just one win away from capture the Black and Gold Challenge crown, the Blue Devils will face Appalachian State this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in Reynolds Gym. Duke remains the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
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Players Mentioned
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DS/L
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