Liberty University’s women’s beach volleyball team is building momentum early in the 2024 season, demonstrating both resilience and adaptability. Over the past two weekends, the Lady Flames posted a 2-1 record at the Carson-Newman University Invitational in Jefferson City, Tennessee, followed by a dominant 3-0 sweep at the Wingate University Invitational in Wingate, North Carolina. The team’s success, particularly as a Club Sports program competing against NCAA opponents, is drawing attention from across the collegiate beach volleyball landscape.
The team’s recent performance highlights a growing competitive drive, according to Head Coach Payton Carter Davis. “I’ve just seen a growth in the program over the past few years in the level of play, the intensity on the court, and their competitive drive of ‘We can beat this team, so let’s do it,’” Davis said. “Rather than ‘I hope we beat this team. Let’s work hard,’ it’s more of, ‘We’re going to win.’”
The Wingate Invitational, held March 20-21, saw Liberty secure victories against Wake Tech (N.C.) Community College, Richard Bland College, and Wingate University. All pairings for Liberty won in straight sets against Wake Tech and Richard Bland, showcasing a comprehensive team effort. The team’s ability to adapt and perform well with different partners has been a key factor in their success, especially given unforeseen circumstances that have required lineup adjustments.
Navigating Partnerships and Building Resilience
Davis emphasized the team’s flexibility as a crucial asset. “Because of different things outside of our control, we’ve had to switch some partnerships, and I’ve seen a lot of ability to play with any person on the team,” she explained. “That requires a high-level skill. The flexibility of coming in and playing well with anybody has been great. The communication has really picked up on the court, so that’s been nice.” This adaptability was particularly evident during the Wingate Invitational, where the team continued to excel despite shifting pairings.
Improved serving and setting skills are also contributing to the Lady Flames’ success. Davis noted these technical improvements have been instrumental in securing match wins. The team’s commitment to refining these fundamental aspects of the game is paying dividends on the sand.
Tennessee Tournament Showed Both Strengths and Challenges
Prior to their dominant performance in North Carolina, Liberty competed at the Carson-Newman Invitational on March 14. The Lady Flames started strong, earning a 5-0 victory over Regent University, a first-year program, and a 4-1 win against NCAA Division III rival University of Lynchburg. However, they faced a tough challenge against the tournament host, Carson-Newman University, an NCAA Division II opponent, ultimately falling 5-0.
The match against Carson-Newman provided a valuable learning experience, highlighting areas for improvement while also demonstrating the team’s willingness to compete against higher-level opponents. Specific results from the Carson-Newman match included losses for Anna Moody/Jo Malone (21-17, 23-21), Cambre Phillips/Jessa Matthews (21-15, 21-12), Brie Olson/Kate Walters (21-12, 21-6), Kate Richards/Kinley Phillips (21-15, 21-5), Sydnee Przemielewski/Mallory Taylor (21-10, 21-8), and Gracie Hall/Lea Tsamadias (21-15, 21-17).
Looking Ahead to the Lynchburg Invitational
Liberty will return to competition this week at the University of Lynchburg Invitational. The Lady Flames are scheduled to face the Hornets for the third time this season on Thursday night. Davis acknowledged that the team will again be navigating some lineup changes due to player absences. “We’ll have some girls missing at this tournament too, so some partnerships will have to switch up again,” she said. “But with their flexibility that I’ve seen, I have full confidence in them we’ll have a good tournament this weekend. It will be fun to play Lynchburg for a third time. It’s hard to beat a team that many times in a season. It’s really hard to beat a team two times in a row, and we already have. So, I’m proud of them for that.”
The Lynchburg Invitational schedule also includes matches against Southern Virginia University (DIII) on Thursday, and dual matches against NCAA DIII Stevenson (Md.) University and Regent on Friday. The team’s ability to consistently compete against NCAA programs, despite being a Club Sports program, continues to garner praise from opposing teams and event officials.
As Liberty continues to build its program, Davis is pleased with the team’s mindset. “I spot a competitive drive in them, which is huge for me as a coach. That’s a hard mindset to coach someone to have, so the fact they are pouring into each other and encouraging each other to have that mindset is really awesome to see.”
The Lady Flames will continue to rely on their adaptability and strong team communication as they navigate the remainder of the season. Official updates and schedules can be found on the Liberty University Club Sports website.
The team’s next competition at the University of Lynchburg Invitational will provide another opportunity to showcase their progress and continue building towards a successful season. Share your thoughts on the Lady Flames’ performance and upcoming matches in the comments below.
