Friday, September 8
Honolulu, Hawai'i
1:00 AM ET/7:00 PM HT
Liberty University
7-0,0-0CUSA
3
at
2
Hawaii
4-2,0-0Big West
1
2
3
4
5
F
Liberty
17
25
23
25
15
3
Hawaii
25
17
25
19
13
2
Liberty Earns First Top 25 Win, Comes Back for Thrilling 5-Set Victory at No. 23 Hawai’i
9/8/2023 6:06:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
HONOLULU, Hawai'i - Liberty earned its first win over a nationally-ranked opponent in program history, battling back for a 3-2 win at No. 23 Hawai'i, Thursday at SimpliSafe Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Lady Flames kept their unbeaten start to the 2023 season going, boosting their record to 7-0. Meanwhile, Hawai'i fell to 4-2, with its only other loss coming to No. 9 Oregon. Liberty is the first team from the Eastern time zone to beat Hawai'i at the Stan Sheriff Center since Penn State on Aug. 29, 2008.
Notable Numbers
Turning Point
Quick Hits
Liberty will take on UCLA at 10:45 p.m. Eastern (4:45 p.m. Hawai'i Time) tonight at SimpliFi Arena to continue the Outrigger Volleyball Challenge.
The Lady Flames kept their unbeaten start to the 2023 season going, boosting their record to 7-0. Meanwhile, Hawai'i fell to 4-2, with its only other loss coming to No. 9 Oregon. Liberty is the first team from the Eastern time zone to beat Hawai'i at the Stan Sheriff Center since Penn State on Aug. 29, 2008.
Notable Numbers
- For the match, Liberty outhit Hawai'i, .233-.214. The Lady Flames also led in kills (70-58), aces (5-4), digs (77-66) and blocks (9.5-9).
- Reigning CUSA Offensive Player of the Week Kamryn Bacus scored a career-high 25 kills to lead all players, while Kate Phillips tied her career high with 20 kills and added 20 digs. Julia Mangum scored a career-high 15 kills at a .345 pace while adding five blocks. Delaney Dilfer dished out a season-high 51 assists and collected 14 digs, while Erica Lowery recorded her second career double-double with 10 assists and a season-high 17 digs. Madison Blane totaled eight kills and five blocks.
- Two-time defending Big West Offensive Player of the Week Amber Igiede hit .429 with 20 kills to go along with seven blocks. Riley Wagoner registered a double-double with 16 kills and 15 digs, while Kate Lang (50 assists, 12 digs) also fashioned a double-double. Talia Edmonds collected 13 digs for Hawai'i.
Turning Point
- Hawai'i rallied from an 18-13 set-three deficit, roaring back to win 25-23 and take a 2-1 match lead. The Lady Flames quickly responded with a 25-19 victory in set four, outhitting the Wahine .364-.143.
- The hosts led 10-7 in the fifth set following a Liberty service error. The Lady Flames then scored four straight points, getting two kills and a block from Bacus to take an 11-10 lead. The teams went back and forth to 13-13. Phillips sent down a kill for Liberty's first match-point opportunity before Hawai'i's Wagoner sent the last attack long, sealing Liberty's 15-13 win.
- A Liberty attack error in the fifth set was challenged by Head Coach Trevor Johnson. The point was overturned, flipping from 12-11 in Hawai'i's favor to 12-11, Liberty. Hawai'i's challenge on the final point of the match was unsuccessful.
ICYMI! ?? https://t.co/wfbprMCHUk
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) September 8, 2023
Quick Hits
- Prior to tonight, Liberty had only taken three total sets off of Top 25 teams, falling 3-1 to California (2007), Kansas State (2008) and Nebraska (2008).
- Liberty and Middle Tennessee (3-1 at No. 25 Auburn) both gave the CUSA wins over Top 25 teams tonight.
- Liberty has won each of its last five five-set matches in a row, a streak which started last year.
- Liberty has won 17 straight regular-season matches, dating to Oct. 14, 2022.
- Bacus posted her second 20-kill match in a row, becoming the first Liberty player since Trinity Watts (Sept. 9-10, 2022) with back-to-back 20-kill matches.
- Bacus' 25 kills are the most by a Liberty player since Amelia Preston scored 29 kills against North Alabama, Nov. 3, 2019.
- Phillips is the first Liberty player with 20 kills and 20 digs in the same match since Lille Happel (21 kills, 23 digs at UNC Asheville, Nov. 12, 2011).
- Bacus and Phillips are the first Liberty teammates to both score 20 or more kills in the same match since Caroline Douglas (22) and Hannah Weidner (20) at Coastal Carolina, Oct. 18, 2014.
- This is the first time since Nov. 10, 2019 at North Florida that Liberty had three players with 15 or more kills in the same match (Casey Goodwin – 19, Anna Gragg – 16, Amelia Preston – 15).
- Liberty is 2-0 in five-set matches this season, while Hawai'i is 2-1.
Up NextFor the first time in program history Liberty Volleyball has beat a Nationally Ranked team?????? pic.twitter.com/Ms3dAJmwjv
— Liberty Volleyball (@LibertyWVB) September 8, 2023
Liberty will take on UCLA at 10:45 p.m. Eastern (4:45 p.m. Hawai'i Time) tonight at SimpliFi Arena to continue the Outrigger Volleyball Challenge.
Team Stats
Lib
Hawaii
Kills
70
58
Errors
28
21
Attempts
180
173
Hitting %
.233
.214
Points
84.5
71.0
Assists
63
56
Aces
5
4
Blocks
9.5
9
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
25
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
20
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
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