Lady Flames go 3-1 in Easter weekend competition, split matches with Stevenson

Friday, March 29

Lynchburg, VA

1:00 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Richard Bland

Grace Cropper and Jillian Kater went 4-0 in last weekend's competitions. (Photo by Maddie Kent); (Gallery photos by Gracie Hall)

Lady Flames go 3-1 in Easter weekend competition, split matches with Stevenson

4/2/2024 6:02:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball

Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2 Photo Gallery 3 Photo Gallery 4

Liberty’s women’s beach volleyball team defeated University of Lynchburg and Richard Bland College and finished 1-1 against Stevenson (Md.) University.

By: News

Gallery: (4-2-2024) beach volleyball at Lynchburg

Liberty University's women's beach volleyball team held strong against its competition over the weekend at the University of Lynchburg, defeating both Richard Bland, a JuCo program, and the NCAA Division III host Hornets and splitting a two-game series against NCAA DII Stevenson (Md.) University.

The Lady Flames got out to a fast start on Friday by defeating the Statesmen 4-1 in match play, with the lone loss by seniors Lizzy Armstrong and Sydnie Metzker, who fell to Richard Bland's top pair in three games.

"(The Lady Flames) all did a great job," Head Coach Jessica Nelson said. "Traveling across town is convenient, but it's not our home courts and it's always good to come out with a win."

Later that evening, the Liberty lost a competitive 3-2 battle against Stevenson, in which three of the five matches went to three games.

The following afternoon, the Lady Flames rebounded from the previous night's setback with a gritty 3-2 victory over the Mustangs. Nelson credited this victory in part to Liberty's No. 3 pairing of freshman Avaree Kellert and senior Cara Lecklider avenging a 21-15, 21-14 loss with a three-game, come-from-behind win (12-21, 21-17, 15-12) in the rematch.

Nelson also praised her second tandem of Grace Cropper and Jillian Kater for standing strong by winning both games against Stevenson. Cropper and Kater went 4-0 in their matches over the weekend.

"Their mindset is everything," she said. "They come out and they know that they can beat everybody, and they have had a really great self-talk to themselves and also between one another. They have demonstrated the ability to just get over their mistakes and not dwell on them. That has helped them walk away with some really big wins."

The Lady Flames will next face NCAA DII Catawba College at home on Wednesday at 2 p.m. before traveling to weekend matches against NCAA DI Eastern Kentucky and DII McKendree (Ill.) University on Saturday.

Liberty 4, Richard Bland 1
1. Lizzy Armstrong/Sydnie Metzker won 21-18, 21-17, 11-15; 2. Grace Cropper/Jillian Kater won 21-15, 26-24; 3. Avaree Kellert/Cara Lecklider won 21-16, 21-18; 4. Brenna Rae Bentley/Abbie Luke won 21-14, 21-16; 5. Eliza Griffin/Maggie Marable lost 16-21, 18-21; 6. Brie Olson/Kinley Phillips won 21-6, 21-16

Liberty 2, Stevenson 3
1: Armstrong/Metzker lost 21-18, 18-21, 11-15; 2. Cropper/Kater won 18-21, 21-19, 15-10; 3. Kellert/Lecklider lost 15-21, 14-21; 4. Bentley/Luke won 19-21, 21-15, 15-13; 5. Griffin/Marable lost 16-21, 10-21; 6. Olson/Phillips won 21-14, 21-14

Liberty 3, Stevenson 2
1. Armstrong/Metzker lost 21-18, 19-21, 13-15; 2. Cropper/Kater won 21-16, 21-17; 3. Kellert/Lecklider won 12-21, 21-17, 15-12; 4. Bentley/Luke lost 21-16, 18-21, 6-15; 5. McGuirk/Marable won 21-14, 21-19; 6. Olson/Phillips won 21-16, 21-13

Liberty 4, Lynchburg 1
1. Armstrong/Metzker lost 23-25, 21-16, 14-16; 2. Cropper/Kater won 21-17, 21-15; 3. Kellert/Lecklider won 21-12, 21-12; 4. Griffin/Luke 21-9, 21-14; 5. McGuirk/Marable won 26-24, 21-12; 6. Olson/Phillips lost 16-21, 21-11, 12-15

By Christian Shields/Staff Writer