HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions moved another step closer to a successful defense of last year's TranSouth Conference Championship after a dominant performance in a 3-0 sweep of Bethel (Tenn.) University on Tuesday morning.

FHU pulled away late in each of the first two sets to pick up 25-21 wins, then left no question in the third and final set with a 25-15 win to close out the match.

Fernanda Ferreira led a balanced attack with 12 kills. Sandra Montoya added nine while Sydney Rice, coming off a 17-kill performance on Monday, recorded seven.

Perhaps the difference in the match for Freed-Hardeman was not its attack, but rather its net defense as the Lady Lions totaled 11.5 blocks and tipped many other balls at the net to keep them in play.

The Lady Lions held TranSouth Conference Player of the Year Thaise Vieira to just five kills on 20 attempts as Bethel hit only .096 as a team. FHU, meanwhile, posted a .275 attack percentage.

Freed-Hardeman advances to take on Union (Tenn.) University in the winners' bracket finals at 7:00 PM.