Lady Flames Fall at EKU, 3-2

Liberty nearly overcame a 2-0 match deficit on Saturday at McBrayer Arena, rallying to force a fifth set, which EKU won 15-9 to secure a five-set (25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 17-25, 15-9) win over the visiting Lady Flames

With the win, Eastern Kentucky improves to 12-8 on the season, including 3-3 in ASUN play. The Lady Flames fall to 11-7, 4-2 in conference matches following today’s setback.

Notable Numbers

• Liberty outhit EKU .242-.200 for the match, the eighth straight match in which the Lady Flames have outhit their opponent. The guests posted a season-high 67 kills. Both teams served up six aces, while Liberty led 12-11 in blocks.

• EKU’s Sarah Mitchell totaled 14 kills and 15 digs, while Carson Ledford totaled 11 kills (.625) and five blocks. Molly Michalak posted nine kills, 10 digs and four blocks, while Maddy Campbell contributed nine kills and five blocks. Chloe Mason registered a double-double with 26 assists and 10 digs.

• For the third match in a row, Liberty placed the same four players in double figures in kills. Trinity Watts (16 kills, 13 digs, five blocks) and Kate Phillips (14 kills, 10 digs) both recorded double-doubles. Meanwhile, Delaney Dilfer dished out a career-high 54 assists, adding three aces, nine digs and two blocks. Erica Lowery collected a match-high 20 digs. Lydia Burts scored 14 kills, while Madison Blane tied her career high with 13 kills to go along with eight blocks.

Turning Point

• EKU won a pair of two-point sets to take a 2-0 match lead, holding off a late Liberty surge in set one before rallying to take set two.

• Liberty found its stride in the middle two sets, hitting .364 in a 25-22 set-three triumph and taking the fourth set 25-17 while hitting .438.

• The Lady Flames scored the first three points of set five and still led 4-2 before EKU went on a decisive 8-0 run to take control of the set at 10-4. Liberty rallied to within five, but could get no closer, as a block ended the victory for EKU.

Quick Hits

• EKU tied up the all-time series with Liberty at 1-1. The Lady Flames defeated the Colonels 3-1 on Sept. 25, 2021.

• Liberty is 2-4 in five-set matches this season after playing three straight five-set contests. EKU is a perfect 3-0 in matches that require five sets.

• Liberty’s 66 kills today are the team’s most since scoring 68 kills against Stetson on Nov. 7, 2021.

• Dilfer posted her second straight 50-assist match, fifth as a Lady Flame and 12th for her career. Her 54 assists are the most by a Lady Flame since Amaya Williams dished up 56 assists against Duquesne on Sept. 3, 2021.

• Liberty has posted 10 or more blocks in each of the last four matches.

Up Next

The Lady Flames return home for a pair of matches at Liberty Arena next weekend. Liberty hosts Jacksonville on Friday at 6 p.m. before taking on North Florida at noon on Sunday.