August 27, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — In Freed-Hardeman's final match of the Philander Smith (Ark.) College Tournament, the Lady Lions overcame a 2-1 deficit to win sets four and five to claim victory over the Scots of Lyon (Ark.) College 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 19-25, 25-14, 15-6).

In the opening set, Freed-Hardeman (2-2) swapped points with their former TranSouth and American Midwest Conference foes until the Scots knotted the first frame at 16-16. After some unforced errors and a few Lyon kills, Coach Todd Humphry called for time with his Lady Lions trailling 22-18. After earning service, Avery Harris stepped to the line to helm a Lady Lion 7-0 run to shock Lyon with a 25-22 set victory.

Lyon (2-2) utilized a set of lengthy runs to bounce back and win the second set. Winning eight out of the first 10 rallies, the Scots forced an FHU timeout with the Lady Lions trailing 8-2. A late flurry of kills from Jayden Watkins closed the gap to see the Lady Lions trail by a lone point, but the match ended in favor of the navy and crimson 25-21.

The third was was the very epitome of "close," with Lyon and Freed-Hardeman tying 11 times and had seven different lead changes. In the set, the Scot posted a match-high 17 kills while FHU tallied eight kills. The Lady Lions' serving ability kept the match close with the maroon and grey slamming down three of their seven service aces in the middle set. In the end, it was the Lyon attack that led the Scots to a 25-19 set win.

With their backs to the wall training two sets to one, FHU screamed ahead in the third set when a run that began at 9-9 ended with the Lady Lions forcing a fifth set with a 25-14 score. At one point in the set, FHU was leaning on a streak of nine unanswered points.

It was a pair of Chester County alumnae to lead the charge in the fifth set, when Bryce Morris and Allie Humphry both had long visits behind the service line including one service ace from Morris. After giving the ball back to Lyon on match point due to an error, Adleigh Mayes more than made up for it by slamming home her fifth kill of the match to give FHU their second win of the young season.

Watkins and Audrey Orton led the Lady Lion attack, posting 14 and 12 kills. Mayes and Humphry continued to impress with 21 and 20 assists. Six Lady Lions placed their names in the blocks column, with Avery Harris's 2.5 blocks leading the way.

Up Next

Though returning to Henderson in the meantine, the Lady Lions will venture back westward to Arkansas to match up again with the Williams Baptist (Ark.) Lady Eagles. The match on Tuesday, August 30, is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.