Blanked at blackout
Men’s volleyball team swept by Virginia Tech in second annual blackout game
Ten missed serves and countless hitting and passing errors were the name of the game for the Liberty University men’s volleyball team (8-5) Friday night Jan. 29 in their “Midnight Mayhem” blackout game versus perennial rival the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Midnight Blues — Flames senior Josiah Williams delivers a bump while junior Nick Williamson looks on during the Flames loss. Photo credit: Leah Seavers
In front of a crowd of more than 4,000 hopeful fans clad in full black attire, the Flames fell in three straight sets, 25-12, 25-11, 25-19.
The Hokies jumped out to an early 10-6 lead in the first set behind strong serving and blocking, and they never looked back. The Flames struggled to put together a run of consecutive points, committing multiple errors and struggling to defend the Hokies’ tall front row.
Freshman outside hitter Joshua Talamoa said the matchup against Virginia Tech showed the lack of the team’s ability to mesh as a team on the court.
“In this midnight game, I think we were more focused on our individual skills rather than playing as a team,” Talamoa said. “We looked like we hadn’t really been playing volleyball for a long time. But, I think once we realize that volleyball is a team sport, that volleyball really is something that you have to work together to win, I think we can do it.”
After losing the first two games by 13 and 14 respectively, the Flames huddled, trying to figure out how to defend against the Hokies’ consistent offensive attack and tough defense.
The Flames began the third set taking a 6-2 lead over Virginia Tech. After missed serves by the Hokies and kills from junior outside hitter Nick Williamson and Talamoa, the Flames led 12-10. Virginia Tech responded with offensive attacks of its own taking the 22-18 lead.
The Flames then earned a kill from junior Josiah Hershberger, but the Hokies were too strong, winning the set 25-19.
Hershberger recognized the difference in the Flames between the first two sets and the final set.
“We … have a lot of young players, and this is their first time experiencing something like this, so I feel as though it took a lot of us a little bit to settle in,” Hershberger said. “In the beginning we were making so many mistakes. It just took a while for us to say ‘Let’s put this all behind us and try to move on from that.’ And so in the second set we kind of picked it up there a little bit, and then in the third set I think we finally realized we can do this.”
Talamoa said the mental side of the game was crucial for the Flames in the third set.
“The first two sets I think were a mental game,” Talamoa said. “We were mentally not ready to play, but as the third game went on we were realizing that we can beat this team. I think that’s what pushed us to keep up with Virginia Tech in the third set.”
In the fall season, the Flames went 8-4, beating Duke and VCU, but losing to Virginia Tech.
Head Coach Bryan Rigg said his team — filled with a large number of freshmen and sophomores — is starting to gel but, against the Hokies, the team chemistry was lacking.
“A lot of freshmen were doing really well,” Rigg said. “(In) the games they played this fall they were really doing amazing, and I think they’ve never done something like this. It was a little (bit) of a wakeup call for them. It was a lot of jitters and nervous players.”
With a young team, a tough matchup with the Hokies and the potential to play them again this season, Rigg said his team needs to make a change.
“I just told the guys we are at a crossroads,” Rigg said. “They need to decide whether they’re going to commit. These guys are good enough to compete with a team like (Virginia Tech), but (they need to) get serious about practice and committing themselves to getting better at all their weaknesses.”
Hershberger said he believes the Flames need to work on fixing their personal mistakes in order to move forward as a better team.
“Eliminating errors is just growing up,” Hershberger said. “I think you just have to go through the pains. Errors teach you something. You can’t really learn from what you do well. You learn from errors. You just have to go into practice and really go off of what you did wrong and improve upon that.”
The Flames return to play Feb. 13 when they host the Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association South Playdate in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Rodriguez is the news editor.