MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Freed-Hardeman University volleyball got their season kicked off with the Faulkner Invitational on Friday. The Lady Lions fell twice in the day, first to hosting Faulkner (Ala.) University 3-1 before a second 3-1 defeat to Keiser (Fla.) University.
Game 1
Faulkner def. FHU 3-1 (25-17, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19)
The season began well enough for the Lady Lions (0-1) with
Audrey Orton tallying two quick kills to give FHU a 5-1 edge. After leading 11-7, the Lady Lions watched as Faulkner rattled off six unanswered point to swing the score to a 13-11 lead for the Eagles.
Iza Wos helped lead the Lady Lions back to a one-point deficit at 18-17, but Faulkner went on a tear to score the last seven points in the 25-17 set win.
The twin cannons of
Avery Harris and
Avery Young teamed up to start the second set with one kill each and teaming up for a block to jump out to a 5-2 lead over Faulkner (1-0) to start the second set. From there, neither team would manage more than three points in a row, but Faulkner strung together enough points to claim the 25-22 set win.
The big run in the third set went the Lady Lions, who utilized an 8-1 run that was capped by
Catherine Hackett's kill giving FHU an 18-11 lead. An ace from Hackett was sandwiched by a pair of Wos kills to avoid the sweep and give FHU a 25-18 set three win.
Momentum swings were key in the fourth set with FHU opening up with a 6-2 lead before the Eagles tallied six unanswered points. The Lady Lions had a six-point run of their own in the middle of the set, when Hackett's service ace knotted the set 15-15. Service errors would haunt the Lady Lions when three consecutive serves were off the mark and Faulkner was able to complete the victory with a 25-19 set win.
Iza Wos and
Avery Young led the Lady Lions with six kills each while
Autumn Howard grabbed a team-high 10 digs.
Game 2
Keiser def. FHU 3-1 (25-18, 25, 21, 24-26, 25-14)
The Lady Lions (0-2) had an identical match in the second of the day, falling in the first two sets before battling back with a set-three win. Just like in game one, the opponent - this time the Keiser (Fla.) University Seahawks - rallied to take the match 3-1.
Keiser (7-2) jumped out to a 5-1 lead to open up the match but a Kill from
Iza Wos was followed by an ace from the arm of
Alyssa Austin. The Lady Lions would make a push in the middle of the set, going on a 7-3 run highlighted by back-to-back kills from Wos to make the score 16-12. From there the Lady Lions and the Seahawks traded points until the Keiser win 25-18.
The second frame was tightly contested with neither team leading by more than a point until a 5-5 score. Keiser would score 10 of the next 13 points to explode to a 14-8 lead. FHU had the biggest rally of the night, storming back with an 8-1 run with Alanys Ruiz Rivera serving. During the run, Wos notched two more kills while
Avery Harris added one. Despite tying the set 20-20, the Lady Lions fell behind after KU took set two 25-21.
The Lady Lions avoided the sweep by winning the third set. This time it was
Audrey Orton with the hot hand, recording a team-high four kills in the set. Tied 21-21, Harris and Wos teamed up for a block that gave FHU a big momentum swing, especially after
Masey Kate Adams delivered an ace. After KU fought back, it was Wos's service ace that finished off the 26-24 set win.
The fatigue of the second mach of the day set in during the fourth set with Keiser opening up with a pair of 5-0 runs to help them end the set and the match in a 25-14 set four.
Audrey Orton led FHU's offense with 13 kills while
Iza Wos followed. with 10 kills and a team-high three aces.
Avery Harris joined Wos with three blocks in the defeat.
Charley Fulton pulled up 12 digs, while
Masey Kate Adams led the team with 26 assists.
Up Next
The Lady Lions finish the Faulkner Invitational with another pair of games, first against No. 19 St. Thomas (Fla.) University at 11:00 a.m. before wrapping up at 3:00 p.m. against William Carey (Miss.) University.
