Liberty University
3-1,0-0ASUN
Old Dominion
-34,00 CUSA
Liberty Falls to ODU in Home Opener
9/10/2021 2:54:09 PM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty dropped its first match of the season, falling in three sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-21) to visiting Old Dominion in the first match of the Liberty Invitational, Friday morning at Liberty Arena.
Liberty’s first loss of the fall 2021 campaign brings its record to 3-1 overall. Old Dominion improves to 3-4 this season after claiming victory in what was the first-ever meeting between the Commonwealth schools in volleyball.
Notable Numbers
• Liberty outhit ODU .324-.250 in the contest and held a 43-39 edge in digs and a 41-36 advantage in assists. The Lady Flames held a slight edge in blocks (4-3), while the Monarchs had 10 service aces to Liberty’s four aces. Liberty recorded 13 service errors, while ODU committed three service errors.
• Liberty senior outside hitter Lilly Kruse led all players with a match-high 14 kills and added six digs. Amaya Williams paced the squad with 32 assists, and Lydia Burts added eight kills.
• ODU’s balanced attack featured four players with six or more kills, led by Alessia Sgherza with 10 kills. Sgherza recorded a double-double with 10 kills and a team-high 11 digs. Teresa Atiliano dished out 32 assists and had four aces in the contest.
Turning Point
• The two teams were even at 22-22 in the opening set before the Monarchs scored two of their final three points by ace to win the set 25-23. ODU’s Anna Burkhardt’s only ace of the match closed out the set.
• There were 14 ties and seven lead changes during the first set. Liberty managed to lead just once over the last two sets combined, as ODU won both sets by 25-21 scores.
Quick Hits
• Liberty is 0-1 all-time against Old Dominion, with today’s matchup being the first between the two schools. Today’s contest served as the Lady Flames’ home opener, after Liberty’s originally home opener scheduled for Aug. 27 against East Carolina was canceled.
• Today’s setback snaps a six-match regular season winning streak for Liberty that dated back to the spring season.
• Liberty’s .324 hitting percentage was its highest since hitting .384 at NJIT on Oct. 25, 2019.
• This is the second first-time opponent in a row that the Lady Flames have faced, after Liberty squared off with Idaho last Saturday at the RMU/Chick-fil-A Robinson Labor Day Volleyball Classic. Liberty will also face first-time opponents Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State this season.
• Kruse’s 14 kills were her most since scoring a career-high 17 kills at Lipscomb, Nov. 4, 2018.
• Amelia Preston made her return to the court in today’s match after missing the spring season due to injury. It had been 640 days since Preston last competed in a match for Liberty. The redshirt senior outside hitter put down four kills on five attacking opportunities and notched two digs.
Up Next
The Lady Flames take on Navy tonight at 7 p.m. to close out the first day of the Liberty Invitational.
