The grand opening of the Liberty Natatorium highlights Liberty’s 2017-18 swimming & diving schedule, as announced today by eighth-year Head Coach Jake Shellenberger.With the brand-new, state-of-the-art Liberty Natatorium opening this fall, the Lady Flames will host a program-record three regular-season meets, along with the first-ever Liberty Last Chance Meet. The natatorium will seat 1,400 fans in a bowl
With the brand-new, state-of-the-art Liberty Natatorium opening this fall, the Lady Flames will host a program-record three regular-season meets, along with the first-ever Liberty Last Chance Meet. The natatorium will seat 1,400 fans in a bowl configuration. It will feature a nine-lane, 50-meter pool with a movable bulkhead. A separate 17-foot diving well that will include 1- and 3-meter springboards and a three-column tower.
The Lady Flames will contest a Blue/Red scrimmage for the second year in a row, Sept. 23 at LaHaye Aquatics Center.
Liberty opens the season at longtime CCSA foe Campbell for the fourth year in a row, facing the Camels in Buies Creek, N.C., Sept. 30.
October begins with Liberty traveling to compete at defending Big 12 runner-up Kansas, Oct. 6-7. Liberty is 1-0 all-time against Big 12 teams, defeating TCU during the 2015-16 season.
The Lady Flames then contest the Virginia Tech Duals, Oct. 20 at Christiansburg Aquatic Center. While in Christiansburg, Liberty is scheduled to face Virginia Tech, North Carolina, VMI and Queens. North Carolina and Virginia Tech finished fourth and fifth, respectively, at the 2017 ACC Championships.
A trip to North Carolina closes out October, as Liberty is scheduled to face Gardner-Webb and Georgia Southern on Oct. 27 in Boling Springs, N.C.
Liberty will appear in the Frank Elm Invite for the second straight season, Nov. 16-19 in Piscataway, N.J.
The grand opening for the Liberty Natatorium will take place Dec. 1-2, as Liberty welcomes Old Dominion, Campbell, Sweet Briar, Roanoke and Hampden-Sydney to Lynchburg for the first intercollegiate meet at the new facility. Along with the opening of the Liberty Natatorium will be the first alumnae reunion in program history.
The new year sees the Lady Flames travel to Fort Myers, Fla., for their annual training trip. 2017 CCSA runner-up Liberty takes on three-time defending CCSA champion Florida Gulf Coast, Jan. 6.
Following the team’s trip to Florida, Liberty returns to host a three-team meet against UNC Asheville and Marshall on Jan. 13. The Lady Flames then head to Huntington, W.Va., the following Saturday, Jan. 20, to face the Marshall Thundering Herd for the second week in a row.
Liberty’s regular-season schedule concludes with a two-day home meet, Jan. 26-27 at Liberty Natatorium, as the Lady Flames host VMI and George Mason.
The 2018 CCSA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship will take place Feb. 14-17 at Georgia’s Gabrielsen Natatorium. Liberty will seek its second conference title, and first since 2014, as the conference meet will be held in Athens, Ga., for the fourth straight year.
For the first time in program history, the Lady Flames will host a last chance meet, Feb. 24-25, as competitors make their last attempt at NCAA qualifying times.
Divers who earn qualifying marks will compete in the NCAA Zone A Division Championships, March 5-8in Piscataway, N.J.
The 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship will be held at Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio, March 14-17.
Should win the conference this year…added diving points with platform event.