Liberty proved they are a team to be reckoned with after defeating Bethlehem Catholic in five games last week during a pivotal East Penn Conference Steel Division showdown.

The ’Canes won 22-25, 25-15, 17-25, 25-16, 16-14 to take home their first victory over the Hawks in three years.

Becahi led 14-12 in the fifth game, but couldn’t finish it off, opening the door to a massive win for Liberty.

“This was a huge win for us, no doubt,” said Liberty head coach Missy Lynn. “We have the utmost respect for what Beca has achieved. Because they’re always a top team in the conference, and a huge division rival, it’s an emotional match.

“In the past, we would mentally check out against them. This year we’ve worked tirelessly on building confidence in ourselves, our teammates, our coaches and the system we run. We came from behind in both this match and the one against Central, which to me, shows our character more than anything else. There is no quit in these girls.”

Hawks’ head coach Paul Abi-Daher doesn’t like to lose, but knows he can take positives away from the outcome.

“One of the issues we take from this match is that our league schedule doesn’t really prepare you to play good competition,” he said. “Liberty really tested our defense for the first time since early in the season and you have to give them credit.

“I think we’ll be better prepared the next time we see them.”

That next time will be October 14 when the Hawks (10-3, 8-3) will have their senior night against the Hurricanes (12-1, 10-1).

Still, the win was savoring for the Steel Division leading Hurricanes.

“We haven’t beaten Beca in three years, so this win has been a long time coming,” Lynn said. “They are defending state champs, and we’re a team that didn’t make the playoffs two years ago. The success we’re having now is a testament to the effort, determination and heart my girls have shown all season.”

Freedom (7-5, 6-5) has six matches left on the year in their hopes to qualify for districts and the EPC playoffs. The Pates were in eighth place in the league standings heading into this week and have four straight days of contests, as they were swept by Liberty on Monday , 18-25, 9-25, 20-25 followed by Southern Lehigh on Tuesday, Easton tonight and Dieruff tomorrow.