Saturday, September 30
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
3:00 PM ET/2:00 PM CT
Liberty University
7-7,0-2CUSA
1
at
3
Middle Tennessee
10-5,2-2CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Liberty
27
14
17
22
1
Middle Tenn.
25
25
25
25
3
Blue Raiders Rally Past Lady Flames 3-1
9/30/2023 5:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Liberty won a spirited first set, 27-25, before Middle Tennessee claimed the final three sets and the match (25-27, 25-14, 25-17, 25-22), Saturday at Alumni Memorial Gymnasium.
The Blue Raiders (10-5) evened their Conference USA record at 2-2 after winning both matches this weekend. The Lady Flames fell to 7-7, including 0-2 so far in its first season of CUSA play.
Notable Numbers
The Lady Flames return home for their first home matches since Aug. 26, hosting No. 25 Western Kentucky on Tuesday and Wednesday at Liberty Arena. This continues a conference-opening stretch of six matches in 10 days for Liberty.
The Blue Raiders (10-5) evened their Conference USA record at 2-2 after winning both matches this weekend. The Lady Flames fell to 7-7, including 0-2 so far in its first season of CUSA play.
Notable Numbers
- For the match, MTSU outhit Liberty .323-.260. Service errors were a problem for both teams, as Liberty (17) and MTSU (13) combined for 30 miscues from the serving stripe. Middle Tennessee led in kills (54-47), assists (50-44) and blocks (11-4), while Liberty led in digs (39-32) and aces (6-5).
- MTSU's Adri Rhoda scored a career-high 21 kills at a .432 to lead all players while also adding a match-high six blocks. Kayla Henley hit .346 with 12 kills while Taylor Eisert dished out a match-high 43 assists. Dasia Smith posted five blocks, while Erin Eisenhart totaled 10 digs and three aces.
- Kate Phillips scored a team-high 16 kills at a .412 pace for the Lady Flames while adding 13 digs for her second double-double of the season. Delaney Dilfer distributed 37 assists and collected eight digs, while Madison Blane (eight kills, .333), Ananda Paterson (seven kills, .500) and Lily Wagner (six kills, .667) all hir for high percentage. Kamryn Bacus, playing for the first time since Sept. 14 against Houston, served up three aces.
- Liberty won a marathon first set, 27-25, fighting off two set-point tries on kills by Blane and Phillips. All told, Liberty ended the set on a 5-1 run.
- MTSU built early leads in sets two and three, winning both. The Lady Flames raced to an early 8-4 advantage in the fourth, and still led 19-18 but could not hold off the Blue Raiders in an efficient set four in which both teams connected at .500 or better.
- Middle Tennessee now holds a 3-1 lead in the all-time series against Liberty. The Lady Flames had won the last meeting prior to this year, Sept. 17, 2016 in Richmond, Va.
- Phillips has now recorded 20 career double-doubles, joining teammate Delaney Dilfer (27) as Lady Flames with 20 or more career double-doubles.
- Phillips reached double-digits in kills for the third match in a row and seventh time this season. Mangum recorded her third double-digit kill match of the year.
- Liberty is now 5-3 in sets decided by two points and 2-2 in extended sets so far this season.
- The Lady Flames were 7-0 after defeating No. 23 Hawai'i on Sept. 7 and have sustained seven straight setbacks since then.
- Today was just the second time this season (also at Old Dominion, Sept. 19) in which Liberty has lost a match after winning the first set.
The Lady Flames return home for their first home matches since Aug. 26, hosting No. 25 Western Kentucky on Tuesday and Wednesday at Liberty Arena. This continues a conference-opening stretch of six matches in 10 days for Liberty.
Team Stats
Lib
MTSU
Kills
47
54
Errors
20
14
Attempts
104
124
Hitting %
.260
.323
Points
57.0
70.0
Assists
44
50
Aces
6
5
Blocks
4
11
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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