Saturday, August 29
Johnson City, Tenn.
10:00 AM ET
Liberty University
1-0,0-0CUSA
3
vs
1
Akron
1-1,0-0MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 25 | 25 | 14 | 25 | 3 |
| Akron | 23 | 21 | 25 | 22 | 1 |
Liberty Downs Akron, ETSU on Day 2 of Buccaneer Classic
8/29/2026 7:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Liberty earned a pair of wins on day two of the Buccaneer Classic, defeating Akron 3-1 (25-23, 25-21, 14-25, 25-22) and downing ETSU in five sets (25-23, 21-25, 32-30, 13-25, 18-16), Saturday at Brooks Gymnasium.
Liberty posted a 2-1 record this weekend to open the season, with its only loss coming to Auburn. The Tigers went 3-0 at the Buccaneer Classic, followed by Liberty (2-1), Akron (1-2) and ETSU (0-3).
Liberty's Carly O'Brien was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Match 1
Liberty 3, Akron 1
Notable Numbers
Liberty 3, ETSU 2
Notable Numbers
The Lady Flames will head to Charlottesville, Va., for a match at Virginia, Tuesday at 6 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
Liberty posted a 2-1 record this weekend to open the season, with its only loss coming to Auburn. The Tigers went 3-0 at the Buccaneer Classic, followed by Liberty (2-1), Akron (1-2) and ETSU (0-3).
Liberty's Carly O'Brien was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Match 1
Liberty 3, Akron 1
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Akron .282-.275 for the match, with both teams serving up seven aces. The Lady Flames led 42-38 in digs, while the Zips led 7-6 in blocks.
- Paige Overcash led three Lady Flames in double-figures in kills, hitting .417 with 13 kills. Laney Daniell scored 12 kills at a .368 pace, while Carly O'Brien totaled 12 kills and eight digs. Alison Bierwagen contributed 25 assists and three aces, with her final ace clinching the match. Melis Ural collected nine digs, while Layla Collins posted three blocks.
- Chidera Ozoh scored a match-high 15 kills at a .571 clip for Akron, while Ozoh added a match-high five blocks. Jordyn Aeschliman and Delaney Gash both sent down 11 kills. Clara Christensen dished out a match-leading 33 assists.
- The Lady Flames led the match 2-0 before Akron extended the match with a 25-14 set-three victory.
- The Zips appeared to be on their way to forcing a fifth set, using a four-point run to go ahead 20-18 in the fourth. However, Addison Hart's kill sparked a 7-2 match-ending run for the Lady Flames.
- Liberty is now 2-0 all-time against Akron in volleyball, with both meetings ending in a four-set win for the Lady Flames. Liberty beat Akron 3-1 on Aug. 31, 2024 in Puerto Rico. Overcash's first and 25th career double-digit matches have both come against Akron.
- Liberty has posted a 9-1 record in neutral-site matches under second-year Head Coach Jeremy White.
Liberty 3, ETSU 2
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit ETSU .211-.204, with the Lady Flames leading 71-61 in digs while both teams posted nine blocks. The Buccaneers served up 10 aces, compared to three for the Lady Flames. There were 50 ties and 18 lead change sin the match.
- Paige Overcash led Liberty with 16 kills, while Addison Hart (15 kills), Laney Daniell (13 kills, .478, four blocks) and Layla Collins (10 kills, five blocks) all recorded career highs in kills. Alison Bierwagen posted a double-double with 35 assists and 16 digs, while Melis Ural collected a career-high 18 digs. Carly O'Brien recorded nine kills and eight digs, while Kayla O'Brien collected 10 digs.
- ETSU's Karis Chatfield scored a match-high 20 kills, adding 10 digs. Melanie Morris collected a match-high 20 digs, while Makayla Bays posted three aces and 14 digs. Phoenix Vogel registered five blocks.
- Liberty cashed in on its ninth set-point chance during a marathon third set. Daniell fought off a set point before scoring a kill to make it 31-30. ETSU then committed an error, giving Liberty the 32-30 win.
- ETSU won set four, 25-13, setting up a decisive fifth set. The Lady Flames fought off match point at 14-13 and 15-14, before Layla Collins gave Liberty set point tries with kills that made it 16-15 and 17-16. Liberty closed out the match with a Daniell-Overcash block.
- Liberty improves to 4-6 all-time against ETSU in volleyball, winning each of the last two meetings. The Lady Flames defeated the Buccaneers 3-0 on Sept. 13, 2024 at Liberty Arena.
- Liberty is 10-2 in five-set matches under second-year Head Coach Jeremy White.
- The Lady Flames went 4-1 in sets decided by two points this weekend.
- Set three against ETSU was Liberty's longest set since falling to East Carolina 35-33 in set two on Sept. 13, 2025.
- Daniell's 13 kills against ETSU were the most by a Liberty middle blocker since Madison Blane scored 16 kills against Louisiana Tech, Nov. 3, 2023. Daniell has set her career high in kills in each of the first two matches this season.
- Bierwagen posted her 11th career double-double and first of the season.
- Keira Rosenmarkle scored her first career kill in today's match.
- Today was the first time that four Lady Flames reached double-figures in kills since Sept. 7, 2024 at UC San Diego, when Kamryn Bacus (16), Kate Gammer (16), Elizabeth Helmich (11) and Madison Blane (10) all scored 10 or more kills.
The Lady Flames will head to Charlottesville, Va., for a match at Virginia, Tuesday at 6 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
Lib
UA
Kills
54
57
Errors
21
21
Attempts
117
131
Hitting %
.282
.275
Points
67.0
71.0
Assists
50
53
Aces
7
7
Blocks
6
7
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Tuesday, November 18
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