OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Lee University volleyball team opened the 2021 season with four losses this weekend at the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational. The Lady Flames (0-4) were defeated in straight sets by Missouri Southern State, West Virginia State and Henderson State, while forcing Maryville (Mo.) to five sets.
"After the uncontrollable tough start to our year as a team, I will say this weekend was really what preseason is all about," said Lee head coach Callie Murphy. "Get in front of other teams, figure out lineups, and learn how to pull through to finish sets. At times, I feel we did execute things well, it just wasn't consistent yet."
Emma Flowers led Lee with eight kills in the 25-14, 25-22, 25-11 loss to Henderson State (8-2) in the team's final match of the weekend. Reagan Bratton was credited with 20 assists. Kamryn Halpin tallied a team-leading nine digs. Mackenzie Pearson and Bratton posted seven digs each.
In Saturday's first match, the Lady Flames were beaten 25-15, 25-10 and 25-7 by West Virginia State (6-2). Abigail Luke recorded six kills and Bratton had 11 assists. Halpin led Lee with five digs.
The Lady Flames opened the weekend with a 25-17, 25-17, 25-22 setback to Missouri Southern State (2-4). Allie Whittinghill and Lyssi Snouffer delivered nine kills each, while Luke added seven more. Bratton dished out 27 assists. Snouffer recorded a team-high 12 digs. Pearson and Bratton each supplied eight digs.
Lee opened its match against Maryville (2-1) with a 25-22 advantage in the first set. Maryville grabbed a 2-1 lead with matching 25-15 scores in the next two sets. The Lady Flames held on 27-25 in the fourth set to force a fifth and final set. Maryville clinched the match with a 15-8 margin in the fifth set.
Snouffer led Lee with 18 kills. Hannah Upton and Whittinghill tallied 10 kills each. Bratton had 33 assists to go with two kills. Pearson posted 19 digs, two service aces and two assists.
"Kamryn Halpin was a player who truly stood out to me over the weekend," added Murphy. "Though stats don't always portray the game, I felt when she was in, our game improved tremendously on the defensive end."
Halpin completed the weekend with 28 digs and a reception percentage of .938. She added six assists and three service aces.
"We did not get the results we wanted, but after a few lineup changes and a mindset flip, we saw glimpses of what is to come. I am excited to get back in the gym on Monday to prepare for the Lee Invitational beginning Thursday," concluded Murphy.
The Lady Flames are scheduled to play three matches this upcoming weekend in the Lee Invitational. Lee faces Young Harris College on Thursday, September 16 at 4:45 p.m. before taking on King University at 7 p.m on Friday and Kentucky State University at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
