ST. LOUIS — Freed-Hardeman University's Lady Lion volleyball team began a day of four matches in 48 hours when they opened the UHSP Classic. Both matched featured close sets wire-to-wire where the first match pitted FHU against Friends (Neb.) University Falcons where FHU fell 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20). In the late game, the Lady Lions came up just short against the Evangel (Mo.) University Valor 3-2 (24-26, 25-17, 27-25, 16-25, 15-5).
Match 1
Freed-Hardeman - 15, 25, 23, 20 (1)
Friends - 25, 23, 25, 25 (3)
Against Friends, FHU (7-3) bounced back after falling in the first set. The Lady improved their kill total in the first set from nine to 14 in the second set.
Despite Friends (9-2) leading the match in service aces, FHU stood tall at the net with six blocks.
Hope Breen led FHU's offense with 10 kills at a .471 clip.
Alyssa Austin and
Becca Heineman each had 21 assists while
Autumn Howard tallied 13 digs.
Iza Wos and
Avery Young each had three block assists.
Match 2
Freed-Hardeman - 26, 17, 25, 25, 5 (2)
Evangel - 24, 25, 27, 16, 15 (3)
A day full of lengthy matches ended with one as the Lady Lions (7-4) and the Evangel Valor went the distance with FHU winning the first set before fighting off elimination by winning the fourth.
In the first set, Evangel (13-2) was on set point 24-23, but a timeout gave FHU the needed momentum to score the next three points and win the set 26-24. The Valor opened the second set with a 5-0 run to bounce back to tie the match with one set to each team.
Tied 23-23 in the third set, the Lady Lions fought off two different set points before Evangel secured the set win 27-25. Four of FHU's 13 service aces came in the fourth set to help the Lady Lions force the decisive fifth set, but the Valor held out momentum to win the set and match.
Avery Young had a double-double with a team-high in kills with 13 in the second match with as many digs.
Marija Milic had a team-high six block assists with one solo stuff.
Up Next
FHU has two more matches in St. Louis by first facing the York (Neb.) University Panthers at 9:00 a.m. before wrapping up the weekend against Cottey (Mo.) College at 1:00 p.m.
