Racquetball teams to open competitive spring season at home Feb. 14

Saturday, February 14

Lynchburg, VA

10:00 AM

Liberty University Club Sports

Liberty Racquetball Tournament

Head Coach Trevor Melton (top center) and Assistant Coach Timothy Adams (bottom center) have helped to develop Flames men's captains and siblings Matthew Cook (left) and Andrew Cook and Lady Flames captains Madisyn Leyendecker and Amber Fredenburg (right).

Racquetball teams to open competitive spring season at home Feb. 14

2/4/2026 5:12:00 PM | Racquetball

The Flames and Lady Flames will host UVA and JMU next weekend in preparation for the Intercollegiate National Championships in March.

Liberty University's men's and women's racquetball teams are set to host their first competition of the season in the four LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center courts on Saturday, Feb. 14, with a tri-match against the University of Virginia and James Madison University. After having tournaments at the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State canceled in the fall and at the start of this semester, this will be the debut for both teams.

This year's women's team consists of six Lady Flames, including five returning players and one freshman newcomer. The men's team has 10 members, made up of eight returning players and two new additions to the roster.

This season marks the inaugural season under the direction of two former players, Head Coach Trevor Melton and Assistant Coach Timothy Adams, who replaced founding Head Coach Danny Rodriguez and longtime Assistant Coach Herman Lewis. The three-year Flames teammates look to continue the success of the program and offer a unique perspective as former players.

"We are always looking to better equip our players and (refine) how practices are run," Melton said. "Timothy has been very good at giving strategy (pointers), especially to the newer players, and (technique tips) to teach them to swing. He has also been great in helping me on the back end of the coaching, social media, and (administrative) stuff like that."

This season, junior Matthew Cook and graduate Andrew Cook are brothers who have been designated captains of the men's team. Meanwhile, the women's team is being led by captains Amber Fredenburg and Madisyn Leyendecker. The community on the team has continued to grow throughout the extended preseason.

"A lot of us get dinner together after practices, and we go to a Bible study on Sundays, which is really great for (building) team community," Fredenburg said. "It's also fun that both our coaches were on the team before, so the returners have a good relationship with them, and they are able to coach and play with us, too, in practice, which is great."

Both Melton and Adams are looking forward to finally getting this season started and to further opportunities to share their passion for the sport.

"I'm excited to be able to help these guys get through their school year, and have a lot of fun doing it, learning a really fun sport, and then hopefully being able to take their competitive natures and go out to these tournaments and perform well," Melton said.

From March 26-28, the team will wrap up its season with the USA Racquetball Intercollegiate National Championships held in Minneapolis. Liberty plans to take six men and all six of its women to represent Liberty in the competition, with hopes of continuing the team's four-year run of top-five finishes. The Flames and Lady Flames finished fifth at nationals in 2022, their highest finish to that point before placing fourth the past three seasons.

By Amory Doyle/Student Writer