MCKENZIE, Tenn. — The Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions continued their September road trip by visiting the Bethel (Tenn.) University Lady Wildcats in the first Mid-South Conference clash of the season. The Lady Lions fell in straight sets 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-17) to the Wildcats.
Freed-Hardeman (8-3, 0-1 MSC) found themselves in a hole early when
Ann Elise Jackson's kill was the only point on the board for FHU while the Lady Wildcats put up seven. After trailing by as much as 15-7, the girls in maroon chipped away at the Bethel lead with kills from Alanys Ruíz Rivera,
Audrey Orton, and
Catherine Hackett. The remainder of the first set was a close battle, but the early lead was too much to surmount as FHU lost 25-15.
The Wildcats (4-6, 1-0 MSC) hoped to continue their early pace, but with
Avery Harris at the service line, FHU rattled off five unanswered points to force a Bethel timeout with the Lady Lions leading 10-7. The hotly contested middle frame featured two lead changes and five ties. With the hosts going on a 7-1 run late in the set, FHU fell behind 2-0 in the match with a 25-21 set loss.
The final set saw the Lady Lions attempt to climb out of a 13-5 deficit, with Young and Jackson continuing their strong play in the middle, but ulimately the final set and the match went Bethel's way with a 25-17 final.
FHU watched six service aces from the Wildcats, while not responding with any aces of their own. The maroon and white out-blocked the purple and gold four blocks to three.
Catherine Hackett led the FHU offense with nine kills. Defensively FHU saw solo blocks from
Avery Harris,
Ann Elise Jackson, and
Alanys Ruíz Rivera while Jackson teamed up with Hacket for one tandem block.
On the back row,
Charley Fulton had 18 digs, while Young had 14, followed by
Morgan Wilson's 10-dig effort.
Up Next
A two-match Arkansas road trip stands between the Lady Lions and league play in earnest. First visiting the Lyon (Ark.) College Scots for a Friday, September 15 match beginning at 6:00 p.m., then visiting the Pioneers of Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) College on Saturday, September 16 with first service at 1:00 p.m.
The Lady Lions will then return home to host the Cumberland (Tenn.) University Phoenix on Tuesday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Brewer Sports Center
