Liberty Captures RMU Classic Title, 3-1 Over Idaho

Liberty sealed a perfect 3-0 opening-weekend record, defeating Idaho 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24) on Saturday at UPMC Events Center.

Saturday’s match was the de facto championship match of the RMU/Chick-fil-A Robinson Labor Day Volleyball Classic, as Idaho could have tied Liberty for the tournament title with a head-to-head win today. Liberty has opened its season at 3-0 for the first time since 2015, while Idaho falls to 2-4, including 1-2 this weekend.

Trinity Watts was named Tournament MVP, while Amaya Williams and Rajini Fitzmaurice were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Head Coach Trevor Johnson

“It wasn’t our best play, but we will take it. I’m proud of our fight and how we battled. We know that volleyball is an imperfect game and sometimes it’s going to be ugly. In those matches, it comes down to who wants it more. I’m stoked that we wanted it more! Good weekend for Liberty Volleyball. Big weekend ahead of us! PURSUE.”

Notable Numbers

• Idaho outhit Liberty, .246-.222 for the match, holding a slight 47-46 edge in digs. Liberty led in blocks (10-7) and aces (10-6), recording 10 aces for the second match in a row.

• Trinity Watts sent down a match-high 18 kills, adding eight digs and four blocks. Amaya Williams dished up 42 assists, while Rajini Fitzmaurice contributed 11 kills, nine digs and four blocks. Aspen Thompson totaled eight kills and four blocks, while Lindsey Hardesty collected 11 digs and served up three aces. Madison Blane posted four blocks.

• Allison Munday led Idaho with 15 kills, followed by 11 kills each from Rachel Davis and Nicole Ball. Peyten Ely dished out 41 assists, while Alaina Lacy led all players with 16 digs.

Match Summary

SET 1

• Liberty trailed 9-3 in the early going, but roared back, outscoring the Vandals 22-11 the rest of the way on the way to a 25-20 win. The Lady Flames served up five aces, keeping Idaho off balance.

SET 2

• The Lady Flames’ defense clamped down on Idaho during set two, as the Vandals hit .000 for the set. Aspen Thompson scored five kills on six swings to spark Liberty’s attack, and the Lady Flames won 25-17.

SET 3

• Idaho extended the match with a 25-20 set-three win, outhitting Liberty .483-.222. Munday and Davis scored six third-set kills each.

SET 4

• Liberty built a commanding 24-19 lead in the fourth set, before Idaho erased all five match-point tries. With the score tied at 24-all, Kennedi Sutter put Liberty back in the lead and then Watts’ serve trickled over the net and down for the match-clinching ace.

• Watts scored nine of her 18 kills during set four.

Quick Hits

• Liberty is 1-0 all-time against Idaho, as today was the first meeting between the two programs.  The Lady Flames will also face first-time opponents Old Dominion, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State this season.

• This was the first time that Liberty has gone undefeated at an away invitational since winning the 2012 UCF Classic by beating Jacksonville, Columbia and UCF.

• Liberty also served up 10 aces yesterday against Duquesne. This is the first time since Aug. 24, 2012 that Liberty has recorded double-digit aces in back-to-back matches, as the Lady Flames totaled 13 aces against both UNCG and NC Central that day.

• Watts is the first Lady Flame since Casey Goodwin in 2019 to open the season with three or more consecutive double-digit kill matches. That year, Goodwin posted 10 or more kills in each of Liberty’s first six matches.

Up Next

The Lady Flames will return home to host the Liberty Invitational, a five-team event held next Friday and Saturday at Liberty Arena. Liberty will face Old Dominion, Navy, Purdue Fort Wayne and Loyola Marymount next weekend.