Lady Flames Down Yale 3-1, Claim Army Invitational Title

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Liberty overcame an early 1-0 deficit, rallying to win three straight sets to claim a 3-1 win (26-28, 25-21, 25-20, 25-15) over Yale on Saturday at Army's Gillis Field House.

The Lady Flames (6-0) went 3-0 at this weekend's Black Knights Invitational. This is the first time since 2008 that Liberty claimed titles in two regular-season invitationals during the same year. Yale, the 2022 Ivy League champion, fell to 0-2 on the season.

Notable Numbers
• For the match, Liberty outhit Yale, .283-.200. The Lady Flames also led in kills (58-52), blocks (12-4) and digs (49-43). Both teams served up seven aces.
• Kamryn Bacus sent down a match-high 21 kills at a .327 pace, adding 10 digs for a double-double. Delaney Dilfer also recorded a double-double, with a match-high 34 assists and 11 digs. Erica Lowery collected a season-high 16 digs and served up three aces. Julia Mangum contributed nine kills (.381) and a career-high eight blocks. Madison Blane posted eight kills (.429) and six blocks while Ananda Patterson recorded five blocks.
• Yale's Audrey Leach and Mila Yarich recorded 12 kills each. Carly Diehl dished out 29 assists, while Maile Somera collected a team-high 10 digs.

Turning Point
• Yale won an extended opening set, 28-26. The Bulldogs led set two 18-15 before Liberty posted three blocks during a 5-0 rally. The Lady Flames closed out the second set by outscoring Yale 10-3 down the stretch for the 25-21 win.
• The Lady Flames trailed 12-6 in set three before making a major surge. Bacus scored seven kills from that point on, as Liberty ended the set on a 19-8 run, with Mangum sealing the 25-20 victory with a kill.

Quick Hits
• Liberty is now 2-1 all-time against Yale in volleyball, with the Lady Flames defeating the Bulldogs for the first time since sweeping them Sept. 17, 2010.
• The Lady Flames are off to their best start to a season since beginning the 2008 season at 8-0.
• This was the first time so far this season that the Lady Flames have dropped the opening set. The last time Liberty won a match after losing the first set was Nov. 18, 2022 at Lipscomb.
• Liberty has won 16 straight regular-season matches, dating to Oct. 14, 2022.
• Liberty has now posted 10 or more blocks three times this year.
• Bacus scored 20 or more kills twice this week and five times as a Lady Flame.
• Bacus and Dilfer both have registered two double-doubles this season. Dilfer has recoded 25 career double-doubles, while Bacus has seven double-doubles.
• Liberty is 3-1 in two-point sets and 1-1 in extended sets so far this season.

Up Next
Liberty travels to Hawai'i for the first time in program history, competing in the Outrigger Volleyball Challenge. The Lady Flames will take on Hawai'i, UCLA and Pepperdine.

Schedule

Lady Flames Down Yale 3-1, Claim Army Invitational Title

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Team Stats

Kamryn Bacus

Kate Gammer

Julia Mangum

Madison Blane

Players Mentioned

Kamryn Bacus

Madison Blane

Delaney Dilfer

Erica Lowery

Julia Mangum

Ananda Patterson