Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PULASKI, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions will face an uphill battle tomorrow if they are to defend their TranSouth Conference Championship from last season.

The Lady Lions fell in four sets to top-seeded Bethel (Tenn.) University in the winners' bracket finals on Tuesday afternoon, meaning that FHU will have to win three straight matches tomorrow in order to take their fourth conference title in five years.

Freed-Hardeman took the first set, 25-17, and seemed to be in control of the second set with a 14-8 lead. But Bethel found its stride and rolled off five straight points to get within one. The Lady Wildcats eventually took the lead at 19-18 and never trailed again, narrowly winning 25-23.

FHU could never regain momentum in the next two sets, falling behind early in both. Bethel led 20-10 in set three before finishing off a 25-18 set win, and took six straight points in the fourth set to build a 13-7 lead that the Lady Lions could not overcome despite a late run that brought them within four points (25-21).

Fernanda Ferreira had 16 kills and Sydney Rice had 13 in the loss. Rice also had 15 digs. Junior Callie West surpassed the 1000 dig mark for her career with a match-high 21.

The Lady Lions face Union (Tenn.) University tomorrow at 10:00 am in an elimination match. The winner moves into the conference championship match and must defeat Bethel twice.