Racquetball challenges UVA in dual match, NC State, UNC in first conference tournament

Saturday, February 14

Lynchburg, VA

10:00 AM

Liberty University Club Sports

Liberty Racquetball Tournament

Matthew Cook Liberty junior racquetball player

Flames junior Matthew Cook won the Division 1-2 singles bracket and teamed with older brother Nathan Cook to capture the men's doubles Gold Division in Friday's through Sunday's MACRC Tournament against UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State at the LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center's courts. (Photos by Grace Greer)

Racquetball challenges UVA in dual match, NC State, UNC in first conference tournament

3/2/2026 6:16:00 PM | Racquetball

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Liberty hosted its first MACRC Tournament at the LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center and held serve for the most part on its home courts.

Gallery: (3-2-2026) Racquetball vs. UVA at LaHaye Rec & Fit

In its first Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Racquetball Conference tournament of the season, Liberty University's men's and women's teams more than held their own in the highest divisions against North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Friday night through Sunday afternoon at the LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center's courts.

The Flames and Lady Flames hosted the University of Virginia in a dual match on Feb. 14, but this was their first three-day tournament.

"For our new players, that was a lot more racquetball than they have ever played in one weekend," first-year Head Coach Trevor Melton said. "Everything went pretty smoothly. It was relatively competitive, and we got some good matches in to prepare us for things we needed to work on, including our serves, before going to (the March 25-28 USA Racquetball National Intercollegiate Championships in Minneapolis)."

In men's singles, Liberty junior Matthew Cook gave up a total of six points in winning his quarterfinal and semifinal matches before rallying to defeat NC State's Riley Davidson, 11-15, 15-7, 11-0, in the Division 1 Gold bracket final.

Kim topped senior Nathan Cook in the consolation final, 15-4, 15-14, for third place, and Flames graduate Andrew Cook overcame UNC's Nicholas Jones in the Division 1-2 Red men's singles final, 14-15, 15-6, 11-2.

Matthew Cook also teamed with Nathan Cook to capture the Division 1 men's doubles division, finishing 4-0 overall and defeating Andrew Cook and senior Zion Kim in a highly competitive final, 15-7, 14-15, 11-8.

On the women's side, neither UNC nor NC State brought any players, so the tournament finals were all intra-squad matches for the Lady Flames. In Division 1-3 women's doubles, Liberty juniors Isabel Priest and Madisyn Leyendecke won both of their matches in round-robin play against junior teammates Maggie Priest and Amber Fredenberg, 15-11, 15-3, as well as freshman Ashley McDermott and sophomore Amelia Bennett, 15-2, 15-6.

Individually, in Division 1-4 singles, Maggie Priest finished 5-0, with her closest match against Bennett (2-3), a come-from-behind 7-15, 15-8, 11-7 win, to capture first place. Besides her 15-1, 15-4 loss to Maggie Priest, Leyendecke won her other four matches to place second.

Complete results are available online.

In their dual match against UVA, the Flames and Lady Flames won all of the brackets except for Division 3 and 4 men's singles and doubles. Matthew Cook captured the Division 1/2 men's singles bracket, with Andrew Cook taking him to three games in the final, and Isabel Priest captured the Division I women's singles title.

Melton is planning to have alumnus Shawn Furman, a former assistant coach under program founder and 15-year Head Coach Danny Rodriguez, stop by practice next week to offer his perspectives on preparing for nationals,.

"They're all excited for nationals, and looking forward to seeing the level of competition there," Melton said, noting the Flames and Lady Flames have placed fourth the past three seasons behind BYU, Oregon State, and Missouri, which are usually the top three teams to beat. "We are hoping we do well this year. Our returning seniors who have been to nationals before are looking to top their performances from past years. Win or lose, it will be a good learning experience for our younger guys."

After returning from nationals, Liberty hopes to travel to one more conference tournament, the MACRC Championships tentatively set for April 17-18 at NC State.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Club Sports Video & Media video