Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Women's beach volleyball upsets NCAA DII Erskine in opener
3/22/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
Liberty University's women's beach volleyball team earned its first-ever win over an NCAA Division II program on the first of two days of dual competition against host Erskine College, Friday in Due West, S.C.. The Lady Flames narrowly lost a rematch on Saturday before emerging with the top two finalists in a single-elimination pairs tournament.
"The weekend was full of highlights and a very bright spot was (senior) Alyssa (Register) and (freshman) Sydnie (Metzker) going undefeated against some really strong teams," Liberty Head Coach Kaleb VanDePerre said. "It was so great to see all of the girls' hard work and prep pay off in our first dual of the season."
The Lady Flames only dropped one game in Friday's opener, winning all five matches plus an exhibition match. They were led by the top-seeded pair of sophomore Kaitlyn Holbrook and freshman Lizzy Armstrong, who prevailed in a 21-18, 21-12 sweep while Register and Metzker swept their second-seeded Flying Fleet opponents, 21-17, 21-19. At No. 3, junior Jenae Baker and graduate Payton Carter won their third-seeded match, 21-15, 21-14 while freshmen Cara Lecklider and Riley Smith rallied for a 16-21, 21-15, 15-10 victory at No. 4. Finally, sophomore Genessa Sirard and freshman Rylee Urban aced Erskine, 21-19, 21-17 at No 5 at the same time junior Lexi Kruse and sophomore Olivia Litzau won the exhibition match, 23-21, 21-16.
"We controlled the ball really well and stayed aggressive on offense and from the service line," VanDePerre said. "Defensively we made good adjustments in game and the girls looked really strong. It was awesome seeing the off pairs cheer and be loud as those who were playing battled a solid Erskine team."
The Lady Flames lost Saturday's second dual match, 3-2, with four of the six matches going to three games.
"I was really impressed with Erskine's adjustments and team," VanDePerre said of the second-year NCAA DII program. "They're young but on the right path and their facility was beautiful. We're excited about that relationship for future events."
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| Head Coach Kaleb VanDePerre offers some advice to the Lady Flames' No. 1 pair of Lizzy Armstrong and Kaitlyn Holbrook (right) between games. |
At No. 1, Holbrook and Armstrong won their first game, 21-17, before dropping the last two, 21-15, 17-15, in a high intensity atmosphere provided by the crowd on hand. Meanwhile, Register and Metzker won their No. 2 match, 21-15, 22-20.
Liberty lost its No. 3- and No. 4-seeded matches, with Baker and Carter falling, 18-21, 21-16, 15-6, and Lecklider and Smith edged by 21-19, 22-24, 15-13 scores. At No. 5 Sirard and Urban overcame a first-game setback to stage a 16-21, 23-21, 15-13 triumph while Kruse and Litzau won their exhibition match, 21-13, 18-21, 15-11.
"There was some really good ball played by both teams on Saturday, when all three of our losses came in three sets, which is both encouraging and frustrating," VanDePerre said. "Erskine played more of the aggressor and we just couldn't close games in the third set."
In Saturday's pairs tournament, the tandems of Holbrook and Armstrong as well as Register and Metzker advanced to the finals to finish as the top two teams in the event.
Liberty will next travel to UNC Wilmington for a round-robin team tournament on Saturday and an open pairs event on Sunday.
