ST. LOUIS — The Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions made it five consecutive games that went the distance with two more five-set matches on Saturday. In the first match, the Lady Lions emerged victorious 3-2 (24-26, 25-16, 25-20, 14-25, 15-9) over the York (Neb.) University Panthers before their winning streak was snapped in five sets to the William Penn (Iowa) University Statesmen 3-2, (25-23, 19-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-11).
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Match 1
Freed-Hardeman - 3
York - 2
Freed-Hardeman (3-5) was stunned in the first set after seeing a 22-16 lead turn into a 26-24 set loss to the Panthers, but the Lady Lions stormed into the second set with
Marija Cabadaj and
Allie Lowhorn teaming up for a block that gave FHU an 8-1 lead.
Olivia Saint dented the floor with three consecutive kills before
Alyssa Austin's ace gave the Lady Lions a 12-3 edge. Austin tallied back-to-back aces to close the set with a 25-16 victory.
Saint continued to swing strong with FHU's first two points over York (2-4) coming as kills from the freshman. The Lady Lions would mount a comeback of their own after the Panthers led at late as 17-15 highlighted by three straight aces from
Becca Heineman to push the Lady Lions to a 21-18 lead before taking a 2-1 set lead by winning the third 25-20.
After falling in the fourth set, the Lady Lions needed a first-to-15 fifth set to claim victory.
Marija Milic joined Cabadaj with three straight kills to take a 6-4 lead. Milic later connected for back-to-back aces before Hanae Bezerga's ace won the match for the Lady Lions.
Olivia Saint was unstoppable with 16 kills at a .394 attack percentage.
Teodora Dacic was right behind with 10 kills. FHU was led by
Cate Schroer's 15 digs while Hanae Bezerga and
Becca Heineman followed with 13 and 12 digs, respectively. Heineman's 29 assists granted her a double-double in the victory.
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Match 2
William Penn - 3
Freed-Hardeman - 2
The Lady Lions (3-6) battled back after falling in the first set to win the next two. FHU turned a 4-3 deficit into an 8-4 lead after three kills from
Olivia Saint and an ace from
Brianna Jackson.
Teodora Dacic took charge at the end of the set with a pair of kills to give the Lady Lions a 25-19 set with to knot the match at one set apiece.
William Penn (5-4) took an 11-7 lead before four different Lady Lions registered kills after
Ana Coker, Dacic,
Allie Lowhorn, and Saint helped the Lady Lions jump ahead to a 12-11 advantage. The Statesmen tied the set later 22-22 before Dacic and Saint sealed the set with a 25-22 win to take a 2-1 lead in the match before William Penn turned things around to win the fourth and fifth sets to end FHU's winning streak at three.
Olivia Saint was again the spark for FHU's offense, providing 15 kills, followed by 10 kills from
Marija Cabadaj.
Teodora Dacic recorded another double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.
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Up Next
The Lady Lions take a well-deserved week's rest before hosting the FHU Labor Day Classic on September 4 and 5. FHU will face take on Brescia (Ky.) again on September 4 at 2:00 p.m. before meeting Tougaloo (Miss.) at 7:00 p.m.
