LC-Morris Box Score
LC-Paine Box Score
SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone volleyball team split its two matches Saturday on the final day of the Livingstone Volleyball Invitational, downing Morris 3-2 and falling to Paine 3-0.
In the first game of the day, the Blue Bears pulled out a thrilling five-set victory over Morris College. Livingstone dominated the first set of the match. Morris trailed by three at 8-5, but the Blue Bears went on a 6-0 run to grab a 14-5 lead. The Blue Bears opened up a 10-point advantage at 20-10 and finished off the first set 25-14.
Morris took the next two sets by scores of 25-23 and 25-22, setting up a must-win situation for the Blue Bears in the fourth set. Morris took a quick 3-1 lead, but Livingstone came charging back with a 10-1 run to take an 11-4 lead. The Blue Bears increased their lead to 10 at 19-9 and cruised to a 25-14, fourth-set victory.
Morris and Livingstone came out even through the first six points of the fifth set before the Blue Bears were able to go on a 5-0 run to grab an 8-3 edge. Morris got back within three at 10-7, but the Blue Bears held strong to take the final set 15-9 and the match 3-2.
Lakitta Hicks had a strong performance for the Blue Bears, leading all players with 26 kills and a .328 hitting percentage. Hicks also recorded six total blocks and 10 digs. Natalia Felix led the team with 15 assists while Iman Isom had 27 digs. LaPria Saunders finished with 10 assists, eight digs and 3.5 blocks.
As a team, the Blue Bears hit .160 with 53 kills, 31 assists, 14 service aces, 76 digs and 16 total team blocks.
In the second game of the day against Paine, the Blue Bears jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, but Paine fought back and held a slim 9-8 lead. Paine followed that with a 7-2 run to take a 16-10 advantage. Livingstone battled back and got within one at 16-15, but couldn't break through to tie the game before falling in the first set 25-22.
Paine controlled the second set early, but the Blue Bears made a strong comeback late. Paine led by five at 10-5, 15-10 and 19-14. The Blue Bears went on a 5-1 run to get within one at 20-19. Paine had set point at 24-22, but back-to-back kills by Ariel Moton and Lakitta Hicks squared the set at 24-24. Moton gave Livingstone set point at 25-24 with a service ace, but a service error that followed tied the set at 25-25.
Livingstone was unable to keep the match going in the third set. Paine led from the beginning and took the final set 25-15 and the match 3-0.
Hicks again led the Blue Bears offensively with 15 kills and also had four block assists. LaPria Saunders had 11 assists and Iman Isom had 10 digs.
As a team the Blue Bears hit .127 for the match with 31 kills, 24 assists, 31 digs and seven team blocks.
The Blue Bears fell to 1-2 on the season with the win and the loss.
The Blue Bears will meet Morris again in their next match on Wednesday, September 7 when Livingstone heads to Sumter, SC for a 6 p.m. match.
