Friday, August 30
San Juan, P.R.
5:00 PM ET
Liberty University
0-1,0-0CUSA
0
vs
3
Iowa
1-0,0-0Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 23 | 23 | 15 | 0 |
| Iowa | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Iowa Sweeps Liberty in Season Opener
8/30/2024 7:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN JUAN, P.R. – The Liberty volleyball team battled Iowa, falling 25-23 in set one and set two, while the Hawkeyes earned the season-opening sweep (25-23, 25-23, 25-15) over the Lady Flames, Friday at Mario Morales Coliseum.
Iowa (1-0) opened the 2024 Puerto Rico Invitational with a victory. Meanwhile, the Lady Flames (0-1) drop their season opener for the first time since Jan. 22, 2021, as Liberty had won each of its last three season openers before today.
Notable Numbers
The Lady Flames wrap up their time in Puerto Rico tomorrow, when they take on Akron at 4:30 p.m. ET at Mario Morales Coliseum.
Iowa (1-0) opened the 2024 Puerto Rico Invitational with a victory. Meanwhile, the Lady Flames (0-1) drop their season opener for the first time since Jan. 22, 2021, as Liberty had won each of its last three season openers before today.
Notable Numbers
- Iowa outhit Liberty .327-.149 for the match, while also leading in kills (44-33), aces (5-3) and blocks (9.5-6). The Lady Flames led in assists (32-31) and digs (29-27).
- Hawkeye setter Claire Ammeraal led all players with 12 kills, 22 assists and three aces, while adding three blocks. Malu Garcia followed with seven kills, while Joy Galles collected a match-high 10 digs. Hannah Whittingstall totaled five blocks.
- Elizabeth Helmich hit .500 with eight kills in her first match as a Lady Flame since transferring from James Madison. Kate Gammer scored eight kills as well, while Madison Blane hit .500 with seven kills. Autumn Flowers led all players with six blocks, while Erica Lowery collected eight digs. Charli Crowson and Charli Morris tied for the team lead with 13 assists apiece, while Crowson served up two aces.
- Liberty tied set one 18-18 with a kill from Autumn Flowers. However, Iowa then staged a 5-0 rally to lead 23-18. After a Hawkeye error, three straight Gammer kills narrowed the gap to 23-22. Both teams then sided out in succession, giving Iowa the 25-23 set-one win.
- Iowa edged Liberty 25-23 in set two as well, getting the winning kill from Malu Garcia. The Hawkeyes then finished off the match, 25-15 in the final set.
- Liberty remains in search of its first-ever win over a Big Ten program in volleyball.
- Today was the first match as Liberty head coach for Nolan Albrecht, who was men's volleyball head coach at Belmont Abbey from 2017 through 2021.
- Prior to today's setback, Liberty had won its season opener in 2021 (Robert Morris), 2022 (Elon) and 2023 (Bucknell).
- Today's match marked the first time since 2013 (versus Ohio State) that Liberty opened a season against a Big Ten opponent.
- Liberty started three newcomers tonight (JMU transfer Elizabeth Helmich, Gardner-Webb transfer Autumn Flowers, freshman Carly O'Brien).
- Today also saw the first appearances as Lady Flames for Gardner-Webb transfer Jenna Otts and freshmen Aubrey Acheson, Charli Crowson, Paige Overcash and Amelia Tomlinson.
The Lady Flames wrap up their time in Puerto Rico tomorrow, when they take on Akron at 4:30 p.m. ET at Mario Morales Coliseum.
Team Stats
Lib
Iowa
Kills
33
44
Errors
19
12
Attempts
94
98
Hitting %
.149
.327
Points
42.0
58.5
Assists
32
31
Aces
3
5
Blocks
6
9.5
Game Leaders
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballRS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
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