September 6, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — It was not so much a home opener as it was a home opening festival, as the first time the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions played on familiar hardwood, it was in the midst of the FHU Labor Day Tournament which saw the Lady Lions compete in 14 games across two days. FHU swept through the opposition of Tougaloo (Miss.) College and Fisk (Tenn.) University on Friday with a pair of 3-0 victories. Saturday was a different story when the hosts fell to the Dragons of Lane (Tenn.) College 3-2, before requiring four sets to right the ship against Faulkner (Ala.) for a 3-1 victory.

Jayden Watkins was in high-flying form, tallying 50 kills across the tournament including a career-high 19 in the finale against Faulkner. Watkins was joined by senior Bryce Morris on the All-Tournament team, where the Henderson native pulled up 36 digs.

Senior Kacey Donegan picked up her season's first double-double, tallying 12 kills and 21 digs in a five-set loss to Lane.

The Lady Lions, now sporting a 6-3 record, will travel north to McKenzie for the first league match of the season against the Bethel (Tenn.) University Wildcats. Bethel is currently riding a three-match win streak, having gone 8-1 to begin the year. The conference clash is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6. The teams' junior varsity squads will meet beforehand at 5:00 p.m.