Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

MARIETTA, Ga. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion volleyball team opened their 2018 season Friday afternoon at the Life University Running Eagle Classic and despite a solid effort suffered a straight-sets loss to Reinhardt University (25-11, 25-21, 25-16).

Despite the loss, the Lady Lions played tough the entire match, led by Freshman Claire Walker who paced FHU's attack with eight kills. Emma Self got her teammates involved, as she dished out 21 assists while Reilly Fulton countered the Reinhardt attack with nine defensive digs.

The Lady Lions kept things tight in the opening stanza, as they went back and forth with the Eagles in the opening possessions. Despite staying within striking distance at the 6-4 mark, the Eagles put together a rally of six straight points to pull ahead 12-4 to make a comeback difficult for the Lady Lions the remainder of the set.

The Eagles continued to roll in the second set, as they led the entire way, despite the Lady Lions pulling within three points at the 24-21 mark late in the set. However, despite the late comeback, the Eagles responded with the final point they needed to take the second set 25-21.

The third set was much of the same, as the Lady Lions fell behind early and trailed by as many as ten at the 24-14 mark before the Eagles closed things out with a 25-16 set win for a 3-0 victory in the match.

With the loss, the Lady Lions fall to 0-1 on the season.

UP NEXT: The Lady Lions continue play at the Life University Invitational Friday evening, as they face Johnson and Wales University at 4:00 PM in Marrietta, Ga.