HENDERSON — The 2026 edition of Freed-Hardeman University volleyball looks to lean on their mantra of "Growth. Grit. Grace."

"We have to not be afraid to fail and be willing to step into the uncomfortable to grow," said fourth-year head coach Amanda Bretherick.

The 2025 campaign ended with the Lady Lions holding an 18-16 overall record with a 3-9 mark in Mid-South Conference play. FHU's biggest asset was their efforts at the service line, where the Lady Lions finished with 347 service aces, the second-most in the NAIA. After breaking the Lady Lions' single-season service ace record with 78, Marija Milic returns for her sophomore campaign. 

Coach Bretherick intends to lean on her setters, Alyssa Austin and Becca Heineman, saying, "They led our offense last year, so they will bring that experience and leadership to the court. And with several new hitters, them bringing that experience to such a young team will be key."

Returners
The Lady Lions have four upperclassmen with Austin being joined by middle blocker Allie Lowhorn and hitters Morgan Jackson and Cate Schroer. As one half of a 6-2 system, Austin had 565 assists in her sophomore season. In limited action, Lowhorn tallied 25 kills, including nine blocks. Jackson finished the season with 152 kills at a .158 clip with 30 blocks. Schroer returns after injury sidelined her for a majority of the 2025 season.

FHU has five sophomores returning with Heineman and Milic being joined by Hope Breen, Alex Howard, and Audrey Satterfield. Heineman, the other half of the 6-2 system, led the way with 576 helpers to go along with her 61 service aces. Hope Breen returns after a freshman season where she connected for 246 kills. In 41 sets, Howard had 20 kills, while Satterfield had four blocks in 13 sets of action.

Newcomers
A major difference between the 2025 roster and the 2026 roster comes in the height column. FHU has eight players that are 6-0 or taller.

"At the end of the day, we need people that can jump high and hit hard," said Bretherick. "When we were looking at recruits and we saw their height, that piqued our interest."

Of those eight players, five of them are freshmen. Mobile, Alabama's Ana Coker joins as an opposite, while Hazel Green, Alabama's Olivia Saint looks to do damage from the outside. Joining fellow Serb Milic are two new Serbian players: Marija Cabadaj and Teodora Dacic. A final international import comes in the form of defensive specialist Hanae Bezerga of Fréjus, France.

Joining Bezerga on the back row are Hackleburg, Alabama's Brianna Jackson and Crossville's Laila Howard.

When asked about her roster's depth, Coach Bretherick said, "I am pumped. This is the first year in a little while that I feel like we have depth at every position. It will help them compete. You've got to fight for a spot and I don't think there are really any guaranteed spots."

Schedule
FHU's season opens at the Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) Tournament in Bourbonnais, Illinois on August 14 before hosting Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) University on August 25 at 7:00 p.m. as the home opener.

The Lady Lions will compete against four teams that earned a trip to the 2025 NAIA National Tournament, with the match against (RV) Marian (Ind.) University coming on August 15. FHU also has two matches against reigning HBCUAC champion, Fisk (Tenn.) University.

The other two teams come from the Mid-South Conference with FHU's trip to (RV) Lindsey Wilson on September 25 opening the conference slate. FHU hosts reigning MSC champion No. 10 Cumberlands in Henderson on October 3.

For the full roster click here.
For the full schedule click here.