Head Coach Josh Knapp (right) stands with the Flames' championship A team on Saturday at North Carolina State.
Men’s volleyball sweeps its way to first ECVA tournament title at NC State
11/20/2023 4:28:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Liberty finished 5-0, defeating the host Wolfpack's A team in the final after it had defeated the Flames' B squad in the semifinals.
Liberty University's men's volleyball A team opened its indoor season with a smashing debut at the East Coast Volleyball Association (ECVA) preseason tournament at North Carolina State on Saturday. Despite traveling with a roster of only seven players due to it being played on the first day of Thanksgiving Break, the Flames finished 5-0 without dropping a single set to claim the championship in the 12-team field.
"Some athletes played positions that aren't their primary position, such as (senior libero) Mason Ellenberger, who instead played outside (hitter) and (sophomore) outside hitter Zach Lamoureux, who played middle blocker," Liberty Head Coach Josh Knapp said. "The tournament win was due to each person on the court doing the job that was required of them and playing together as a unit."
The Flames opened the tournament by sweeping host NC State's B team, 25-19, 25-17, before dominating High Point, 25-13, 25-8, and edging the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 26-24, 25-20 to finish first in their pool.
Then in the playoff semifinals, Liberty defeated the University of North Carolina Greensboro by that same exact score before holding off NC State's A squad, 25-22, 25-23, in the championship final.
"We saw some great competition with matches against UNC, UNCG, and NC State, who were all great programs with some very good talent," Knapp said. "The team had a great performance with not dropping a single set all day. The difference at this event was our athletes' energy and focus. They were sold on what they could accomplish together as a unit working as one and understanding the game plan for each match no matter who was on the court or in what position."
Sophomore setter Josh Culpepper led the team in blocks with eight and served eight aces in addition to distributing a team-high 105 assists.
"Josh led the team on the court distributing the ball well through our offensive systems," Knapp said. "He showed a great performance with the control of his own play and managing both sides of the court throughout game play. He and Mason (Ellenberger) both contributed to the success of the team with their consistency at their respective positions. Mason had a great performance at the net running a quick offense off of (Culpepper's sets) and extending play with his experience and level head on the court."
Knapp said Ellenberger has been getting reps in practice at both the libero and outside hitter positions to help expand the Flames' versatility.
"Mason is a major factor in our program, a great all-around player who is extremely competent in defense and serve-receive," Knapp said. "He led our team in stats for both with 38 digs on defense and the highest serve-receive rating on the court."
Sophomore outside hitter Zach Bell, sophomore middle hitter Jayden Rice, senior opposite hitter Tyler Wemple, and freshman libero Andrew Milo also made major impacts.
"We had great showings from all the athletes with Tyler Wemple being very consistent for us on the right side and Zach Bell finding the court and stepping up as a primary hitter as an outside," Knapp said.
Wemple and Ellenberger tied for team highs with 29 kills apiece.
Liberty's B team, also competing with seven players as it was missing both of its starting outside hitters and starting middle hitter, finished 3-3 in games played in its pool before losing a three-game championship semifinal match to NC State's A team, 22-25, 25-17, 15-12.
"They put up a good showing even without their full lineup, which is a great indication of the the athletes' competitive mindsets," Knapp said.
The Flames' A team will conclude its fall semester schedule by traveling to NCAA Division III Stevenson University in Baltimore on Dec. 2 for a tournament that will also feature ECVA rival Virginia Tech and a few other teams, possibly including the University of Maryland.
Video by Kylee Lilge/Club Sports Video & Media Coordinator
"Some athletes played positions that aren't their primary position, such as (senior libero) Mason Ellenberger, who instead played outside (hitter) and (sophomore) outside hitter Zach Lamoureux, who played middle blocker," Liberty Head Coach Josh Knapp said. "The tournament win was due to each person on the court doing the job that was required of them and playing together as a unit."
The Flames opened the tournament by sweeping host NC State's B team, 25-19, 25-17, before dominating High Point, 25-13, 25-8, and edging the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 26-24, 25-20 to finish first in their pool.
Then in the playoff semifinals, Liberty defeated the University of North Carolina Greensboro by that same exact score before holding off NC State's A squad, 25-22, 25-23, in the championship final.
"We saw some great competition with matches against UNC, UNCG, and NC State, who were all great programs with some very good talent," Knapp said. "The team had a great performance with not dropping a single set all day. The difference at this event was our athletes' energy and focus. They were sold on what they could accomplish together as a unit working as one and understanding the game plan for each match no matter who was on the court or in what position."
Sophomore setter Josh Culpepper led the team in blocks with eight and served eight aces in addition to distributing a team-high 105 assists.
"Josh led the team on the court distributing the ball well through our offensive systems," Knapp said. "He showed a great performance with the control of his own play and managing both sides of the court throughout game play. He and Mason (Ellenberger) both contributed to the success of the team with their consistency at their respective positions. Mason had a great performance at the net running a quick offense off of (Culpepper's sets) and extending play with his experience and level head on the court."
Knapp said Ellenberger has been getting reps in practice at both the libero and outside hitter positions to help expand the Flames' versatility.
"Mason is a major factor in our program, a great all-around player who is extremely competent in defense and serve-receive," Knapp said. "He led our team in stats for both with 38 digs on defense and the highest serve-receive rating on the court."
Sophomore outside hitter Zach Bell, sophomore middle hitter Jayden Rice, senior opposite hitter Tyler Wemple, and freshman libero Andrew Milo also made major impacts.
"We had great showings from all the athletes with Tyler Wemple being very consistent for us on the right side and Zach Bell finding the court and stepping up as a primary hitter as an outside," Knapp said.
Wemple and Ellenberger tied for team highs with 29 kills apiece.
Liberty's B team, also competing with seven players as it was missing both of its starting outside hitters and starting middle hitter, finished 3-3 in games played in its pool before losing a three-game championship semifinal match to NC State's A team, 22-25, 25-17, 15-12.
"They put up a good showing even without their full lineup, which is a great indication of the the athletes' competitive mindsets," Knapp said.
The Flames' A team will conclude its fall semester schedule by traveling to NCAA Division III Stevenson University in Baltimore on Dec. 2 for a tournament that will also feature ECVA rival Virginia Tech and a few other teams, possibly including the University of Maryland.
Video by Kylee Lilge/Club Sports Video & Media Coordinator
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