Faulkner opens strong, loses steam
Junior setter Shaleen Knight trys to lead her team back in game two
October 10
After dominating Columbia in round one of pool play the Eagles set their sights on the undefeated Lady Lions of Freed-Hardeman University. Faulkner stunned Freed in the opening game, blazing to a 25-14 win. Games two through four however, were a different story. The Lady Lions thundered to back-to-back wins, extinguishing the fire set by the Eagles in the opener. Freed took the final three 25-15, 25-10, 25-16.
Freshman Neysa Hernandez gets brutal on this ball against Freed
Ashlee Gothard with another dig
Jessika Robinson slams one between the defenders for a kill
Holly Hutcheson has proved and invaluable offensive weapon for the Eagles since her transition back to outside hitter from the libero spot. Hutcheson's effective passing and strong serve receive made her the leading candidate for the defense and she spent the first half of the season filling the libero role. Things changed last weekend however, when freshman outside hitter Abbie Melvin sustained a season-ending knee injury against Reinhardt College. Since that time, Hutcheson has been moved back to the outside and libero slot has been filled by sophomore Kari Wiggins.
LaTonya Daniels gets all over this set for the point in set one
Holly Hutcheson makes a perfect pass in set two
Fast hands lead Kimber Holt to a kill against Freed
The Eagles get excited after Jessika Robinson gets a big block against the Lady Lions
Hutcheson, for the third straight match, led the Eagles with 13 kills, hitting .250. The senior still finds herself contributing extensively on defense and led in digs as well with 15. She also had three aces.
Knight pushes the ball out to her hitter in game two
Outside hitter Neysa Hernandez put up 10 kills, hitting .348, while middle Kimber Holt added 10 kills of her own, hitting .200.
Junior Samantha Talley pushes hard left for the kill
The Eagles will enter bracket play tomorrow with opponents and times still to be determined. Faulkner is now12-12 overall and holds the fifth position in the SSAC rankings.
LaTonya Daniels motivates the offense in set four