SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone Blue Bear volleyball team kicked off its 2009 season with two wins over Edward Waters College and Allen University Friday at Trent Gym. With the victories, the Blue Bears improved to 2-0 on the season. The first match of the day against Edward Waters was a back and forth battle which the Blue Bears took 3-2 (22-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-18, 15-7). The first set was tight through the first 20 points as the teams were tied 10-10. Livingstone grabbed eight of the next 10 points to go up 18-12, but Edward Waters battled back. Trailing 21-18, Edward Waters took seven of the final eight points to take the first set 25-22. The first part of the second set was again tight with Livingstone holding only a one-point edge at 12-11. Livingstone, however, turned up the pressure and took 13 of the last 16 points to be victorious in set two 25-14. Edward Waters jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the third set, but the Blue Bears battled back and the match was tied at 21. Edward Waters took four of the last five points to take set three 25-22. Livingstone won points when they needed to in the fourth set. Edward Waters held the momentum and a16-13 edge and looked poised to take the match, but the Blue Bears weren’t going quietly. Behind the serving of sophomore Michelle Thompson the Blue Bears took nine straight points to grab a five-point lead and finished off the fourth set 25-18. The Blue Bears dominated the fifth set from start to finish, taking the set 15-7 and the match 3-2. Junior Lashaundra Ferguson led the Blue Bears with 19 kills and a .417 hitting percentage. Also in double-digit kills was freshman Alexis Flagler with 10. Defensively, Thompson racked up 15 digs in addition to four solo blocks and three block assists. The Blue Bears took their second match of the evening from Allen University by the score of 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-19). Allen made the Blue Bears work for their first-set victory. Livingstone held a 22-16 edge, but Allen battled back to get within one at 24-23, but a timely kill by Ferguson finished off the set for the Blue Bears at 25-23. Nothing came easy for the Blue Bears Friday evening and the second set against Allen was no different. Allen got off to a hot start and grabbed the early lead, but Livingstone battled back. The Blue Bears looked to be in control leading 20-15, but Allen made a game of it, battling back to get within three at 22-19. The Blue Bears, however, resisted the Allen charge and held on to take the second set 25-21. Livingstone closed out Allen in the third set in yet another nail biter. Allen held the early lead, but relinquished it to the Blue Bears midway through the set and Livingstone didn’t allow Allen to get back into the set. Livingstone took the third set 25-19 and the match 3-0. No Blue Bear dominated on the offensive end, but as a team the Blue Bears finished with 30 kills and a .173 hitting percentage while holding Allen to 17 kills and a .048 hitting percentage. The Blue Bears will be back in action Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. when they host Morris College at Trent Gym.