BUENA VISTA, Va. — The Southern Virginia University men's volleyball team defeated Liberty University in their home-opener in three sets 25-22, 25-22, 25-18 Thursday night. 

Nahuel Recabarren led the way for the Knights (3-3) with 13 kills and a .478 hitting average. Paul Candland impressed on the night with six kills and a .273 hitting percentage while Kaipo Tagaloa dished out a game-high 28 assists along with eight digs. Sebastian Noble anchored the defense with a game-high nine digs, and McKay Walker secured a game-high five blocks. 

Southern Virginia University executed their gameplan, jumping out to an early 5-2 lead in the first set. Liberty answered with three consecutive points tying the set at 5-5. The Knights used an 11-5 run to extend their lead to six points 16-10 off kills from Recabarren and Walker. Liberty again answered with a 6-1 run to come within one point of Southern Virginia University 17-16. After another run by the Knights and going up 22-16, the Flames cut the lead to two points 23-21 after a 5-1 run. The Knights capitalized on a kill from Recabarren and a service error from Liberty to take the 1-0 lead in the match. 

After trading points early in the second set, Southern Virginia University took a 12-11 lead midway through the set off another kill from Recabarren. The Flames quickly tied it 12-12 off a kill from James Morton, but Tagaloa showed his serving skills with two aces in a 5-0 run to take the 17-12 lead. The Knights used two kills from Curtis Stone and Paul Candland in a 7-4 run to set up set point 24-16. After three consecutive points from Liberty, Southern Virginia University used a service error to take the 2-0 lead in the match. 

Both teams exchanged points to begin the final set before Sean Taggart of Liberty recorded a service ace to give the Flames their first lead of the match 7-6. The Knights utilized four attacking errors and a service error to take the 11-7 lead. Liberty cut the lead to two points 11-9 off a kill from Cross Edwards and a service ace, before Southern Virginia University answered with three points of their own to take the 14-9 lead.

The Flames began to chip away at the lead outscoring the Knights 7-3 late in the third set to come within one point 17-16. Southern Virginia University wrapped up the third set with an 8-2 run to complete the sweep 25-18. 

The Knights finished the match hitting above .300 in all three sets for a combined .338 hitting average for the team. Southern Virginia University played well defensively with an advantage on digs 31-24 on the night along with a combined 17 blocks on the night. 

The Knights take on Immaculata on Friday, Feb. 7, for their Centennial Volleyball Conference (CVC) opener in Knight Arena. The match is set for 7 p.m.