2009 Volleyball

LEBANON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion volleyball team moved one step closer to its third straight regular season conference title with a 3-1 win over Cumberland (Tenn.) University on Monday night.

FHU, which improves to 17-9 overall and 11-2 in conference, needs a win over Lyon (Ark.) College on Nov. 3 to clinch the title.  The Lady Lions currently hold a 1.5 game lead over Bethel (Tenn.) University, which has three conference matches remaining.  A Bethel loss in any of those matches would also secure the title for Freed-Hardeman.

The Lady Lions jumped on top early in the first set, building a 10-5 lead and keeping Cumberland from getting any closer than three points for the remainder of the set en route to a 25-18 win.

Cumberland took control of the second set, rolling off nine of 10 points to turn a 5-5 tie into a 14-6 lead.  FHU would never get back within striking distance as the Bulldogs took advantage of five attack errors and two service errors to earn a 25-15 win and even the match.

Momentum shifted back in Freed-Hardeman's direction in the third set, with the Lady Lions rallying for eight of nine points early in the set to take a 12-4 advantage.  FHU kept the pressure on behind the hitting of Diana Silva and Sydney Rice, who led the team to a .367 attack percentage in the set, and retook the match lead with a 25-16 set win.

After three sets that were determined early, the fourth set stayed close most of the way.  FHU again took an early lead and held a 14-11 edge until Jessica Gericke and Laura DeGear helped push Cumberland ahead, 18-16.  FHU took two straight points to even the set, then pulled away by taking six of the match's final nine points to complete the four-set win.

Rice led all attackers with 18 kills and a .516 attack percentage.  Silva added 13 kills and 15 digs, while Nataly Gutierrez put away 10 kills.  Claire Pennington paced the defense with 16 digs while Callie West added 10.  Rice also had five total blocks.

The Lady Lions head to the Bone Yard Brawl in Georgetown, Ky., this weekend, where they will face off against three nationally ranked opponents.