Friday, September 25
Lynchburg, Va.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
8-5,0-1CUSA
2
vs
3
Middle Tennessee
10-3,1-0CUSA
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tenn. | 18 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Liberty | 25 | 14 | 25 | 22 | 13 | 2 |
Middle Tennessee Rallies for 3-2 Win at Liberty in CUSA Opener
9/25/2026 9:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty led Middle Tennessee 2-1 after three sets on Friday at Liberty Arena, before the Blue Raiders rallied to take the final two sets and the match, 3-2 (18-25, 25-14, 21-25, 25-22, 15-13).
With the win, its sixth in a row, Middle Tennessee (10-3) opens CUSA play at 1-0. Meanwhile, Liberty (8-5, 0-1) sees its four-match winning streak snapped.
Notable Numbers
The Lady Flames and Blue Raiders face off again tomorrow at Liberty Arena, with first serve set for 1 p.m.
With the win, its sixth in a row, Middle Tennessee (10-3) opens CUSA play at 1-0. Meanwhile, Liberty (8-5, 0-1) sees its four-match winning streak snapped.
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Middle Tennessee .271-.254 for the match, while the Lady Flames also led in digs (72-66). The Blue Raiders held the advantage in both aces (8-6) and blocks (12-6).
- Reigning CUSA Offensive Player of the Week Sophia Henry of Middle Tennessee led all players with 20 kills to go along with 10 digs and three blocks. Gabrielle Clinkscale scored 14 kills, while Michaela Dlouha totaled 13 kills, two aces and a match-high 10 blocks. Caroline Macander recorded a double-double with a match-high 46 assists and 15 digs, while Marianne Garcia (16), Addison Burks (10) and Kendall Mignerey (10) all reached double figures in digs.
- Four Lady Flames scored 10 or more kills, led by Laney Daniell (career-high 14 kills, .591, four blocks) and Paige Overcash (14 kills). Carly O'Brien contributed 13 kills and a match-high 18 digs, while Jenna Otts sent down 11 kills, Alison Bierwagen (34 assists, eight digs) and Charli Crowson (26 assists, nine digs) combined for 60 assists and 17 digs, while Melis Ural totaled 13 three aces and 13 digs and Molly Littlefield collected nine digs. Charli Morris tied her career high with nine kills.
- With the teams tied at 1-1 in the match, Liberty burst out to a double-digit lead in set three, at 15-5 and again at 16-6. The Lady Flames still led 18-9, but allowed the Blue Raiders to claw back in the set, getting it to as close as one point, 22-21. Charli Morris then teamed with Layla Collins for a block assist, sparking a set-closing 3-0 run which Morris ended with a kill.
- Middle Tennessee forced a fifth set by winning set four, 25-22. The Blue Raiders led 11-10 before back-to-back kills by Henry and Dlouha made it 13-10. Otts then scored a kill, followed by a Laney Daniell solo block, bringing Liberty back to within one. However, Henry then scored a kill for a 14-12 lead. O'Brien sided out with a kill, but Henry's kill on the next rally clinched the match for the Blue Raiders.
- Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series against Liberty, 6-3. Each of the last three matches have lasted five sets, with these two teams splitting a pair of five-setters last year in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Liberty is 8-3 in sets decided by two points this season.
- The Lady Flames have posted an 11-3 record in five-set matches under second-year Head Coach Jeremy White, including 2-1 this season. Middle Tennessee is also 2-1 in five-set matches this season.
- Ural has collected 10 or more digs in each of the last 11 matches. That is the longest streak of 10-dig matches by a Lady Flame since Macy Phillips ended the 2019 season with 18 straight 10-dig contests.
- This was the third time this season that Liberty has had four players with 10 or more kills in the same match and first since Sept. 1 at Virginia, with O'Brien (15), Otts (11), Overcash (10) and Daniell (10) all reaching double figures.
- Liberty hit .500 (19-2-34) in the opening set, the second time this season that the Lady Flames have hit .500 or better in a single set.
- O'Brien is now tied with Bierwagen for the active career lead among Lady Flames with 16 double-doubles.
- Daniell's 14 kills were the most by a Liberty middle blocker since Madison Blane scored 16 kills against Louisiana Tech, Nov. 3, 2023.
The Lady Flames and Blue Raiders face off again tomorrow at Liberty Arena, with first serve set for 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ 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
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
MTSU
Lib
Kills
64
66
Errors
21
21
Attempts
169
166
Hitting %
.254
.271
Points
84.0
78.0
Assists
57
64
Aces
8
6
Blocks
12
6
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 19
Tuesday, November 18
Saturday, October 11