Box Score Battling from a set down the Lee volleyball team (1-3, 1-2) scored its first win of the young season topping North Alabama, 3-2Â in a hard-fought five set Gulf South Conference matchup on Tuesday evening in Walker Arena.
The Lady Flames dropped the opening set 25-20 after the Lions (4-4, 2-2) stormed off the bus from Florence, Ala. and held a commanding lead throughout the opening few minutes.
Lee would bounce back to win the next two sets (25-23, 25-18) before the Lions would edge the Lady Flames to claim the fourth set, 26-24.
The home team stormed out to a 9-2 advantage in the fifth and final set and held off a late UNA run to seal the victory by a 15-10 margin.
Latrice Johnson helped lead the way for the Lady Flames. The senior registered a team-high 14 kills to go along with 13 digs. Erin Hill joined Johnson in double-figures with 10 kills on a .255 attack percentage while also dishing off 25 assists.
Sophomore Catherine Conley added nine kills and six big blocks. Conley teamed with Blaire Beamer (five blocks) to form a wall at the net in the final three sets for Lee. Freshman Haley Foote chipped in 19 assists while senior Patty Orozco had nine kills. Junior-transfer Stephanie Hernandez anchored the back line with a match-high 22 digs.
"I thought Latrice (Johnson) stepped up big for us," noted head coach Andrea Hudson. "She changed her style of play tonight and it paid off."
Senior Megan Gorey slammed home 20 kills to pace North Alabama. Natasha Fomina added 17 kills and finished with a .317 attack percentage. Andrea De Leon set things up with 48 assists while Ashtyn Kapvoich compiled 15 digs for the Alabama club.
"This was a big win for us tonight and hopefully we can keep things going when we head on the road this weekend for our first conference road trip." added Hudson.
The Lady Flames will visit GSC-newcomer Mississippi College in Clinton on Friday at 7 p.m. before heading to Livingston to test West Alabama on Saturday at 3 p.m.
