Liberty University
5-3,1-0ASUN
Bellarmine
4-8,0-1ASUN
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 25 | 18 | 25 | 14 | 15 | 3 |
| Bellarmine | 23 | 25 | 19 | 25 | 7 | 2 |
Liberty Battles for 3-2 Win Over Bellarmine in ASUN Opener
9/24/2021 4:19:55 PM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty won the first, third and fifth sets in Friday’s ASUN opener, claiming a 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-19, 14-25, 15-7) win over Bellarmine at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena.
With the win, Liberty improves to 5-3 on the season, including 1-0 in ASUN play. Meanwhile, Bellarmine falls to 4-8, 0-1 in conference matches.
Liberty is one of three ASUN East Division teams competing in this weekend’s ASUN crossover at Lipscomb. The Lady Flames are joined by division foes FGCU and Jacksonville. All three of those East Division teams are facing Bellarmine, Eastern Kentucky and Lipscomb this weekend.
Head Coach Trevor Johnson
“I thought Kate did a great job, considering it was her first college match! She finished with 17 kills and did some good things for us. We needed to be a little more terminal at times to end rallies faster. We know that we can play better and we will take the win. On to EKU! #PURSUE”
Notable Numbers
• Bellarmine outhit Liberty .190-.180 for the match. The Knights held a slight 73-72 advantage in digs, while Liberty led in aces (9-6) and blocks (11-7).
• Kate Phillips scored a match-high 17 kills in her first collegiate match, adding 14 digs, three blocks and two aces. Rajini Fitzmaurice sent down 11 kills on her 20th birthday, while Lydia Burts totaled nine kills and six blocks. Lindsey Hardesty collected a career-high 21 digs, while Grace Allread dished out 25 assists.
• Three Knights reached double figures in kills, in Bailey Venard (16), Jayme Scott (15) and Chrysanthi Stamatiou (14). Emily Arnold dished out a match-high 36 assists.
Turning Point
• Bellarmine forced a decisive fifth set by winning set four, 25-14. The Lady Flames quickly took command in the final set, racing to a 6-1 lead. The Knights inched back to within 8-6, but the Lady Flames outscored Bellarmine 7-1 down the stretch to seal the 15-7 victory. Phillips’ 17th kill of the match punctuated the five-set win.
Quick Hits
• Liberty is 2-1 all-time against Bellarmine, as these two teams split a two-match series this spring in Louisville, Ky.
• Liberty has won its ASUN opener for the third time in four years as a member of the conference.
• Liberty started five freshmen (Grace Allread, Madison Blane, Lindsey Hardesty, Kate Phillips and Kennedi Sutter). That is the most Liberty freshmen to start a match since Sept. 30, 2016, when six freshmen (Payton Carter, Leah Clayton, Casey Goodwin, Anna Gragg, Hannah Morris and Kainah Williams) started at UNC Asheville.
• Phillips is the first Liberty player to record a double-double in her first career match since Lillie Happel (12 kills, 14 digs) against Cleveland State on Aug. 27, 2010.
• Phillips’ 17 kills were the most by a Liberty true freshman in her first career match in the rally-scoring era (since 2001).
• Hardesty’s 21 digs were the most by a Liberty freshman since Margaret Latchford collected 26 digs against Radford, Nov. 19, 2015.
Up Next
The Lady Flames take on Eastern Kentucky tomorrow at 1 p.m. Eastern time to continue this weekend’s ASUN crossover.
