Saturday, August 26
Lynchburg, Va.
10:00 AM ET
Liberty University
2-0,0-0CUSA
3
vs
0
Gardner-Webb
1-1,0-0Big South
1
2
3
F
Gardner-Webb
13
22
17
0
Liberty
25
25
25
3
Liberty Sweeps Gardner-Webb, Stony Brook to Claim Home Tournament Title
8/26/2023 6:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty wrapped up a perfect opening weekend, posting 3-0 sweeps of both Gardner-Webb (25-13, 25-22, 25-17) and Stony Brook (25-21, 25-17, 25-23), Saturday at Liberty Arena.
The Lady Flames claimed the team title, starting out at 3-0 for the second time in the last three seasons. Meanwhile, Gardner-Webb, Stony Brook and Bucknell all went 1-2 this weekend.
Liberty swept the all-tournament team honors, as Delaney Dilfer was voted MVP and Best Setter, Erica Lowery was named Best Libero, Kamryn Bacus was tabbed as Best Attacker and Madison Blane was voted Best Blocker.
Liberty vs. Gardner-Webb
• Liberty opened the day with a 3-0 sweep of Gardner-Webb. The Lady Flames outhit the Runnin' Bulldogs .330-.053 for the match. The hosts also led in kills (47-29), aces (3-1) and blocks (9.5-3). GWU won in digs, 43-40.
• After Liberty won set one, 25-13, Gardner-Webb led the second set 20-19. However, the Lady Flames closed on a 6-2 run, with Kate Phillips' ace sealing the set victory.
• Bacus led all players with a season-high 16 kills, while Madison Blane hit .750 with nine kills to go along with four blocks. Ananda Patterson tied for the match high with four blocks. Delaney Dilfer dished out a match-high 35 assists and added five kills.
• GWU's Avery Cole and Jenna Otts tied for the team lead with seven kills each. Morgan Hornaday recorded 21 assists and Sophia Kotsovolos collected a match-high 10 digs.
Liberty vs. Stony Brook
• The Lady Flames continued their hot hitting into the afternoon, racing to a 2-0 match lead over Stony Brook. The Seawolves appeared to be poised to send the match to a fourth set, leading set three 21-17. Stony Brook still led 23-22 after a kill by Ava Jackson. However, Liberty scored the next three points, including two kills from Blane, to clinch its third 3-0 sweep in a row.
• For the match, Liberty hit .291 compared to .115 for Stony Brook. The Lady Flames led in kills (45-35) and blocks (11.5-6), while SBU held the advantage in aces (7-3) and digs (52-47)
• Kate Phillips hit .412 with a season-high and match-high 15 kills, while Madison Blane scored 12 kills (.688) and added a match-high seven blocks. Kamryn Bacus registered 11 kills, while Delaney Dilfer dished out a match-high 39 assists and Erica Lowery collected 12 digs.
• Stony Brook's Kali Moore totaled 14 kills, while Torri Henry contributed 31 assists and 10 digs. Julia Patsos led all players with 21 digs.
Quick Hits
• Liberty is now 24-2 all-time against Gardner-Webb in volleyball, winning each of the last 10 meetings in a row. The Lady Flames and Stony Brook met for the first time.
• The Lady Flames started the 2021 fall campaign with a 3-0 record as well. However, this is the first time in program history that the Lady Flames have posted three straight 3-0 sweeps to start a season.
• The last time Liberty posted three straight 3-0 sweeps was Nov. 6-13, 2022.
• Bacus has scored 10 or more kills in each of her last seven matches, dating to last season. She now has 49 career 10-kill matches and 24 as a Lady Flame. Phillips recorded her 31st career double-digit kill contest.
• Blane's .688 hitting percentage against Stony Brook is tied for the fifth-best single-match hitting percentage (minimum 12 kills) in the program's rally-scoring history. It is the best since Casey Goodwin also hit .688 (12-1-16) against Elon, Sept. 7, 2019.
• Stony Brook (.115) was the only Liberty opponent to hit over .100 this weekend, as Liberty is holding opponents to a .080 hitting percentage while averaging 3.22 block per set as a team.
• Liberty Head Coach Trevor Johnson, Gardner-Webb Head Coach Eric Plunkett and Bucknell Head Coach Tyler Hagstrom were NAIA national champion collegiate volleyball teammates at Cal Baptist.
Up Next
Liberty will play each of its next 11 matches away from Lynchburg. Next week, the Lady Flames will played at the Black Knights Invitational in West Point, N.Y. Liberty will face High Point, Army and Yale at next weekend's invitational.
The Lady Flames claimed the team title, starting out at 3-0 for the second time in the last three seasons. Meanwhile, Gardner-Webb, Stony Brook and Bucknell all went 1-2 this weekend.
Liberty swept the all-tournament team honors, as Delaney Dilfer was voted MVP and Best Setter, Erica Lowery was named Best Libero, Kamryn Bacus was tabbed as Best Attacker and Madison Blane was voted Best Blocker.
Liberty vs. Gardner-Webb
• Liberty opened the day with a 3-0 sweep of Gardner-Webb. The Lady Flames outhit the Runnin' Bulldogs .330-.053 for the match. The hosts also led in kills (47-29), aces (3-1) and blocks (9.5-3). GWU won in digs, 43-40.
• After Liberty won set one, 25-13, Gardner-Webb led the second set 20-19. However, the Lady Flames closed on a 6-2 run, with Kate Phillips' ace sealing the set victory.
• Bacus led all players with a season-high 16 kills, while Madison Blane hit .750 with nine kills to go along with four blocks. Ananda Patterson tied for the match high with four blocks. Delaney Dilfer dished out a match-high 35 assists and added five kills.
• GWU's Avery Cole and Jenna Otts tied for the team lead with seven kills each. Morgan Hornaday recorded 21 assists and Sophia Kotsovolos collected a match-high 10 digs.
Liberty vs. Stony Brook
• The Lady Flames continued their hot hitting into the afternoon, racing to a 2-0 match lead over Stony Brook. The Seawolves appeared to be poised to send the match to a fourth set, leading set three 21-17. Stony Brook still led 23-22 after a kill by Ava Jackson. However, Liberty scored the next three points, including two kills from Blane, to clinch its third 3-0 sweep in a row.
• For the match, Liberty hit .291 compared to .115 for Stony Brook. The Lady Flames led in kills (45-35) and blocks (11.5-6), while SBU held the advantage in aces (7-3) and digs (52-47)
• Kate Phillips hit .412 with a season-high and match-high 15 kills, while Madison Blane scored 12 kills (.688) and added a match-high seven blocks. Kamryn Bacus registered 11 kills, while Delaney Dilfer dished out a match-high 39 assists and Erica Lowery collected 12 digs.
• Stony Brook's Kali Moore totaled 14 kills, while Torri Henry contributed 31 assists and 10 digs. Julia Patsos led all players with 21 digs.
Quick Hits
• Liberty is now 24-2 all-time against Gardner-Webb in volleyball, winning each of the last 10 meetings in a row. The Lady Flames and Stony Brook met for the first time.
• The Lady Flames started the 2021 fall campaign with a 3-0 record as well. However, this is the first time in program history that the Lady Flames have posted three straight 3-0 sweeps to start a season.
• The last time Liberty posted three straight 3-0 sweeps was Nov. 6-13, 2022.
• Bacus has scored 10 or more kills in each of her last seven matches, dating to last season. She now has 49 career 10-kill matches and 24 as a Lady Flame. Phillips recorded her 31st career double-digit kill contest.
• Blane's .688 hitting percentage against Stony Brook is tied for the fifth-best single-match hitting percentage (minimum 12 kills) in the program's rally-scoring history. It is the best since Casey Goodwin also hit .688 (12-1-16) against Elon, Sept. 7, 2019.
• Stony Brook (.115) was the only Liberty opponent to hit over .100 this weekend, as Liberty is holding opponents to a .080 hitting percentage while averaging 3.22 block per set as a team.
• Liberty Head Coach Trevor Johnson, Gardner-Webb Head Coach Eric Plunkett and Bucknell Head Coach Tyler Hagstrom were NAIA national champion collegiate volleyball teammates at Cal Baptist.
Up Next
Liberty will play each of its next 11 matches away from Lynchburg. Next week, the Lady Flames will played at the Black Knights Invitational in West Point, N.Y. Liberty will face High Point, Army and Yale at next weekend's invitational.
Team Stats
GW
Lib
Kills
29
47
Errors
24
12
Attempts
95
106
Hitting %
.053
.330
Points
33.0
59.5
Assists
29
43
Aces
1
3
Blocks
3
9.5
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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