WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. — Opening their 2025 season on the road, the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lion volleyball squad got a 3-1 (25-20, 25-16, 27-29, 25-14) victory against the Williams Baptist (Ark.) University Eagles.
Becca Heineman toed the service line where the Lady Lions (1-0) rattled off six unanswered points - including two service aces - to take a 9-3 lead in the first set. Williams Baptist narrowed the gap until it was a 12-11 lead for FHU, but the Lady Lions were able to string together a set where they hit .308 to win the opening frame 25-20.
Neither the Lady Lions nor the Eagles (0-1) could settle in for a long stay at the service line with the Lady Lions stringing together two 4-0 runs including one with back-to-back Heineman aces. A kill from
Morgan Jackson gave FHU the 25-16 set win.
Williams Baptist came out strong in the third set by jumping out to a 5-2 lead before
Marija Milic settled in to anchor FHU scoring six straight points including three aces to take a 12-9 lead. The hosts eventually staved off three different match points before scoring the needed two-point advantage to win the third set 29-27.
FHU came storming out of the gate to open the fourth set by rattling off five consecutive points including two
Alex Howard aces. A block and a kill from Milic make the score 11-4. A five-point run late in the set helped FHU cruise to the 25-14 set victory to seal the match win.
Avery Young had the thunderous arm for FHU, recording a career-high 19 kills on 38 swings.
Morgan Jackson followed with 10 kills.
Audrey Orton pulled up a team-high 12 digs while
Alyssa Austin and
Becca Heineman teamed up to record 13 and 11 assists, respectively.
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Up Next
The Lady Lions will host their annual Labor Day Classic with four other teams visiting Henderson. The Lady Lions will compete on August 29 first against Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) College before battling the Fisk (Tenn.) University Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m.
