Liberty University
6-3,2-0ASUN
Eastern Kentucky
4-11,1-1ASUN
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Eastern Ky. | 25 | 18 | 23 | 21 | 1 |
Liberty Earns 2nd Straight ASUN Win, 3-1 Over EKU
9/25/2021 3:58:19 PM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty earned its second straight win on Saturday, downing ASUN newcomer Eastern Kentucky in four sets (20-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-21), in ASUN crossover action at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena.
The Lady Flames improve to 6-3 on the season, including 2-0 in ASUN play, while EKU falls to 4-11, 1-1 in ASUN matches. Liberty will take on the host Lipscomb Bisons tomorrow at 7 p.m. Eastern time, while the Colonels will face FGCU at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
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 these East Division teams are facing Bellarmine, Eastern Kentucky and Lipscomb this weekend.
Head Coach Trevor Johnson
“Rajini had a complete match today. She finished with 12 kills, had 20 digs, and served really tough. She was a great leader today, encouraging our girls to do better. I’m proud of her. I always tell our girls, ‘you never know when it’s your turn to shine,’ and our girls did a great job of excelling in their opportunities when given. They have done awesome all season preparing for these matches. We got one degree better today. #PURSUE”
Notable Numbers
• Liberty outhit EKU .152-.102 for the match. The Lady Flames also held advantages in aces (7-6), blocks (9-8) and digs (72-64).
• Rajini Fitzmaurice posted her second double-double of the season, totaling 12 kills and a career-high 20 digs. Kate Phillips scored 12 kills and added nine digs. Grace Allread dished out a match-high 32 assists to go along with 17 digs. Kennedi Sutter posted a team-high five blocks, while Lindsey Hardesty served up a match-high three aces.
• Molly Michalak led EKU with 17 kills, followed by double-doubles from Sarah Mitchell (10 kills, 10 digs) and Anna Purichia (10 kills, 11 digs). Reilly Lowe led all players with six blocks.
Turning Point
• With the match tied a 1-1, Liberty trailed set three 18-15 before staging a 6-0 run to take a 21-18 advantage. EKU battled back, tying the score at 22-all and again at 23-23. A service error and attack error by the Colonels sealed set three for the Flames, who took the momentum into set four and won the match.
Quick Hits
• This is the third time in four years in the ASUN Conference that Liberty has won its first two matches, as the Lady Flames opened ASUN play 4-0 in 2018 and won its first three conference contests in 2019.
• Today was the first meeting between Liberty and Eastern Kentucky in volleyball. The Lady Flames will take on additional ASUN newcomers Central Arkansas and Jacksonville State for the first time, Oct. 22-23 in Jacksonville, Fla.
• Liberty had faced current EKU player Reilly Lowe in the NIVC first round, a 3-2 win over La Salle. Lowe played for the Explorers that night in the Vines Center.
• Fitzmaurice’s 20 digs are the most by a Liberty outside hitter since Gabrielle Vess collected 20 digs at Gardner-Webb on Nov. 11, 2017.
• Phillips has opened her Liberty career with back-to-back double-digit kill matches, and narrowly missed out on her second straight double-double, finishing with 12 kills and nine digs.
