HENDERSON — Teodora Dacic led all hitters with 20 kills as the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lion volleyball team hosted the (RV) Cumberland Phoenix. Despite forcing a fourth set, the Lady Lions fell 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 24-26, 25-22).
The first set a was a foretaste of the difficulties the Lady Lions (9-13, 0-5 MSC) would face. After swapping scores until
Marija Milic's kill tied the set 7-7. Cumberland bounced out to score seven consecutive points including a pair of aces. FHU continued to rally with kills from Marija Cabaaj and
Morgan Jackson, but the Phoenix hit 25 first in a 25-18 set victory.
The Lady Lions stormed out in front of the Phoenix (14-11, 4-1 MSC) by forcing a timeout with the Lady Lions leading 7-1. In that span,
Ana Coker joined Dacic with a set of kill while Milic landed a service ace. Cumberland continued to score in bunches, with a six-point run eventually giving the guests a 15-10 lead.
Becca Heineman's service ace late in the set tied things 20-20, but the Phoenix recorded the final five points to win 25-20.
In the third frame, the Lady Lions and the Phoenix leveled the scores seven times and traded leads six times. Cabadaj and Milic forged FHU ahead late in the set with a kill form Milic putting FHU on top 17-14. As they had done the rest of the game, Cumberland managed to string together points to take a 19-17 lead. Dacic smackee back-to-back kills to put FHU back on top. From there, Cumberland appeared comfortable with four match points, but Dacic recorded two kills and a block.
Audrey Satterfield joined Coker with a block. After an attack error, Dacic - fittingly - landed the kill to win the set and keep FHU's hopes alive.
Cumberland went on one of their runs to turn a 12-5 deficit into a 14-12 lead. FHU answered, in turn, with three consecutive kills from Cabadaj. A late push by the Phoenix wrapped the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
Desipte the loss, Lady Lions led most of the statistical categories, including kills (49), points (62.0), assists (48), and digs (63).
Teodora Dacic recorded a double-double with a season-high 19 kills with just eight errors while also pulling up 16 digs.
Marija Cabadaj was right behind with 12 kills.
Hanaé Bezerga had 12 digs in the match.
Ana Coker and
Audrey Satterfield shared three block assists.
Up Next
The Lady Lions finish the first half of the MSC slate with a trip to face the Bethel Wildcats on October 9 in McKenzie.
