Four Lee players had double-figure kills as the Lady Flames volleyball team turned away a determined Shorter College team 3-1 (25-9, 25-22, 23-25, 25-13) on Wednesday evening in Walker Arena.
Cheered on by another large crowd in the arena, the Lady Flames got out of the gate quickly and overwhelmed the SSAC opponent in the first set 25-9. Lee jumped out to a 2-0 lead by winning the second game 25-22.
The Lady Hawks took several minutes to regroup after the second set and came back to secure the thrilling third game 25-23. Coach Andrea Hudson did a little regrouping of her own in the final set and then watched as her undefeated (7-0) ladies claimed the final game in convincing style 25-13.
“I was not pleased with our overall play,” pointed out Hudson. “We still have a lot of things to work on. Every team we play takes a different approach and that’s what we’ve got to adjust to. Shorter always comes to play against us.”
Arlene Ferreira paced the torrid Lee net play with 16 kills. Christa Hutchison followed with 12. Val Caboclo was right behind with 11 and Stephanie Todd countered with 10. It appeared that each time the Lady Flames needed a kill, either Ferreira or Hutchison came up with key slam.
Setter Kelsey Leffew turned in one of her better efforts of the young season by posting 34 assists. Gretchen Higdon added 14. Not only was Ferreira a standout at the net, she also went into the back court to come up with 19 digs. Libero Sarah Smith followed with 11. Higdon chipped in with two service aces.
Lee had to battle a strong Shorter net game with seven blocks by Ferreira and five by Caboclo. Irene Ojukwu also contributed three blocks.
The Lady Hawks had nine kills by Ashley Walton. Ashlie Stewartson contributed eight slams, while Shorter got seven kills from Lauren Olive and Maggie Parker.
Lee gets a little break and then hits the road again next Tuesday, traveling to Mount Vernon, Ga. to face Brewton-Parker College.