Liberty University
15-7,8-2ASUN
FGCU
16-6,6-3ASUN
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 26 | 12 | 25 | 26 | 3 |
| FGCU | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 1 |
Lady Flames Hand FGCU 1st Home Loss, Defeat Eagles 3-1
10/22/2022 9:04:56 PM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty rallied for three narrow set victories, handing FGCU its first home loss of the season, 3-1 (26-24, 12-25, 25-22, 26-24), Saturday at Alico Arena.
With the win, Liberty (15-7, 8-2 ASUN) extends its winning streak to four matches. Meanwhile, FGCU falls to 16-6, 6-3 in ASUN play. The Eagles entered the match with the longest active home winning streak in NCAA Division I volleyball, with 22 straight wins at Alico Arena. Prior to tonight, FGCU’s last home loss was March 6, 2021 against North Florida.
Notable Numbers
• FGCU outhit Liberty .203-.147 for the match, although the Lady Flames led in kills (58-47) and digs (58-53). The Eagles held a 14-10 advantage in blocks, while both teams served up six aces.
• Kamryn Bacus scored a match-high 17 kills for the second night in a row, adding three aces and eight digs. Trinity Watts recorded 13 kills and four blocks, while Lydia Burts totaled 11 kills and five blocks. Delaney Dilfer dished out a match-high 49 assists, while Erica Lowery collected a match-high and career-high 23 digs. Madison Blane had seven kills and five blocks, while Kate Phillips posted nine kills and 10 digs.
• Lily Felts led FGCU with 14 kills and added 11 digs, while Lauren Clark registered 12 kills (.450) and four blocks. Chelsey Lockey dished out 40 assists, while Dana Axner collected 15 digs and Juliana Lentz posted a match-high seven blocks.
Turning Point
• Liberty dug out of a 5-0 hole in set one, and had five set-point tries at 24-19 before FGCU rallied to tie it at 24-24. Kills by Watts and Phillips gave Liberty the 26-24 win.
• FGCU tied the match with a resounding 25-12 set-two victory and led Liberty 13-7 in the third before the Lady Flames staged a set-ending 18-9 run to win 25-22.
• Liberty led set four 24-21 before FGCU fought off three match-point attempts. Bacus sealed the match, with a kill followed by a service ace to seal to 26-24 win.
Quick Hits
• Liberty earned its first win over FGCU in Alico Arena, as the Eagles had won the previous four matches in Fort Myers. FGCU leads the all-time series 7-2, with Liberty beating the Eagles for the first time since a 3-0 sweep on Sept. 24, 2019 in the Vines Center.
• Bacus has scored 17 or more kills in each of the last three matches. She is the first Lady Flame since Casey Goodwin (four straight, Nov. 10-21, 2019) with 17 or more kills in four consecutive matches.
• Burts has posted seven straight 10-kill matches, the first Liberty middle blocker since Chelaine McCarty (nine matches, Sept. 15-Oct. 12, 2007) with seven or more consecutive double-digit kill contests.
• Liberty had outhit its opponent in each of its last 12 matches prior to tonight. This was the first time this season Liberty has won when being outhit in a match.
• The Lady Flames, at 8-2 in ASUN play, are off to their best 10-match start to conference competition since posting an 8-2 Big South record to start the 2016 conference schedule.
Up Next
The Lady Flames return home for their next two matches, hosting Austin Peay and Lipscomb next weekend at Liberty Arena. On Friday at 6 p.m., Liberty will host its Dig Pink Match, raising funds for the Side-Out Foundation.
