Friday, August 25
Lynchburg, Va.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
1-0,0-0CUSA
3
vs
0
Bucknell
0-2,0-0Patriot
1
2
3
F
Bucknell
21
21
18
0
Liberty
25
25
25
3
Lady Flames Cruise to Season-Opening 3-0 Win Over Bucknell
8/25/2023 8:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Liberty volleyball team opened its 2023 season with a resounding 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-18) sweep over Bucknell on Friday at Liberty Arena.
Liberty (1-0) has now won its season opener each of the last three seasons. Meanwhile, Bucknell falls to 0-2 on the season after 3-0 losses to both Stony Brook and Liberty today at Liberty's invitational.
Notable Numbers
• Liberty outhit Bucknell .133-.067 for the match. The Lady Flames also led in kills (39-27), aces (5-0) and digs (45-41) while both teams posted eight blocks. The Bison sustained 10 service errors, while also becoming the first opponent of Liberty since Elon on Sept. 7, 2019 to not serve up a single ace.
• Liberty outside hitters Kamryn Bacus (13 kills, 11 digs, four blocks) and Kate Phillips (13 kills) tied or the match lead in kills. Meanwhile, Delaney Dilfer dished out a match-high 34 assists. Madison Blane scored seven kills at a .385 pace while adding five blocks. Erica Lowery collected 12 digs.
• Bucknell's Jordan Hardy led all players with 14 digs, while Sidney Shaffer tied Blane for the match lead with five blocks.
Turning Point
• After Liberty won set one, 25-21, Bucknell appeared in command of the second set at 20-16. However, Kate Phillips earned a sideout with a kill, setting up a seven-point serving run by Kate Curtis during which the Auburn transfer served up two aces. All told, Liberty outscored the Bison 10-2 down the stretch to win set two 25-21 and take a 2-0 match lead.
Quick Hits
• Liberty is now 2-0 all-time against Bucknell in volleyball, with the only previous meeting coming on Oct. 5, 1985.
• The Lady Flames have swept their season-opening opponent in back-to-back years, posting a 3-0 sweep over Elon to start the 2022 campaign.
• Bacus has scored 10 or more kills in each of her last five matches, dating to last season. Tonight was her 47th career 10-kill match and 22nd as a Lady Flame. Phillips recorded her 31st career double-digit kill contest.
• Liberty Head Coach Trevor Johnson and Bucknell Head Coach Tyler Hagstrom were NAIA national champion collegiate volleyball teammates at Cal Baptist.
• Newcomers Kate Curtis (Auburn) and Ananda Patterson (Campbell) both made their Liberty debuts tonight.
Up Next
Liberty will play twice tomorrow, beginning with a 10 a.m. match against Gardner-Webb. The Lady Flames close out opening weekend tomorrow at 3 p.m., taking on Stony Brook.
Liberty (1-0) has now won its season opener each of the last three seasons. Meanwhile, Bucknell falls to 0-2 on the season after 3-0 losses to both Stony Brook and Liberty today at Liberty's invitational.
Notable Numbers
• Liberty outhit Bucknell .133-.067 for the match. The Lady Flames also led in kills (39-27), aces (5-0) and digs (45-41) while both teams posted eight blocks. The Bison sustained 10 service errors, while also becoming the first opponent of Liberty since Elon on Sept. 7, 2019 to not serve up a single ace.
• Liberty outside hitters Kamryn Bacus (13 kills, 11 digs, four blocks) and Kate Phillips (13 kills) tied or the match lead in kills. Meanwhile, Delaney Dilfer dished out a match-high 34 assists. Madison Blane scored seven kills at a .385 pace while adding five blocks. Erica Lowery collected 12 digs.
• Bucknell's Jordan Hardy led all players with 14 digs, while Sidney Shaffer tied Blane for the match lead with five blocks.
Turning Point
• After Liberty won set one, 25-21, Bucknell appeared in command of the second set at 20-16. However, Kate Phillips earned a sideout with a kill, setting up a seven-point serving run by Kate Curtis during which the Auburn transfer served up two aces. All told, Liberty outscored the Bison 10-2 down the stretch to win set two 25-21 and take a 2-0 match lead.
Quick Hits
• Liberty is now 2-0 all-time against Bucknell in volleyball, with the only previous meeting coming on Oct. 5, 1985.
• The Lady Flames have swept their season-opening opponent in back-to-back years, posting a 3-0 sweep over Elon to start the 2022 campaign.
• Bacus has scored 10 or more kills in each of her last five matches, dating to last season. Tonight was her 47th career 10-kill match and 22nd as a Lady Flame. Phillips recorded her 31st career double-digit kill contest.
• Liberty Head Coach Trevor Johnson and Bucknell Head Coach Tyler Hagstrom were NAIA national champion collegiate volleyball teammates at Cal Baptist.
• Newcomers Kate Curtis (Auburn) and Ananda Patterson (Campbell) both made their Liberty debuts tonight.
Up Next
Liberty will play twice tomorrow, beginning with a 10 a.m. match against Gardner-Webb. The Lady Flames close out opening weekend tomorrow at 3 p.m., taking on Stony Brook.
Team Stats
Buck
Lib
Kills
27
39
Errors
20
24
Attempts
104
113
Hitting %
.067
.133
Points
35.0
52.0
Assists
26
38
Aces
0
5
Blocks
8
8
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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