CLEVELAND, Tenn.-In three extremely challenging sets, the Lee volleyball team fell to visiting Montevallo University on Tuesday evening 3-0 by identical 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 totals. The Lady Flames will be back on the road on Friday, traveling to Carrollton, Ga. to face West Georgia at 6 p.m. and the moving onto Valdosta State for another conference game on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The loss dropped the Lady Flames to 7-5 overall as they opened Gulf South Conference play with the talented Falcons, who improved to 3-8 after a very tough non-conference schedule. 

Each set went right down to the wire with the veteran Montevallo team pulling away down the stretch to secure the victory. The Falcons used the powerful front line to produce a .360 attack mark while the Lady Flames only managed a .186 hitting percentage.

Freshman Carmen Perez got the Lady Flames off to a quick start in the first set but the Falcons adjusted and made it difficult for Lee's newcomer to score points the remainder of the evening. Perez finished with four kills. Abby Stroh paced the Lady Flames with seven kills in 19 attacks (.211). Allie Scurlock added five kills in 14 tries while Macy Petty also had four kills and a .222 hitting mark. 

The balanced Falcons were led by Kamble Frenette with eight kills and a solid .467 hitting mark. Macy Martin and Brooklyn Hudson had five kills apiece. Martin and Hudson both nailed 5-of-9 kill attempts.

Ashton Middleton had 19 assists for the Lady Flames. However, Lee had eight service aces but also had eight service errors. Blocks were hard to come by against the talented Falcons up front as the Lady Flames had only four with Petty getting three and Middleton two.

The visitors went to the floor for 25 big digs and the Lady Flames could come up with only 16. Kalin Duncan and Colton Thompson shared the assist duties for the Falcons, Thompson with 21 and Duncan with 20. Allie Dishman recorded four blocks. 

 Coach Christa Fabre's thoughts:

"Montevallo is a very good team and their record is certainly not an indication because they have played a very tough schedule. We had our chances in all three sets but could not finish. I think Montevallo's veteran leadership and their strength at the net really showed up tonight. Our girls will get better as the season progresses. Service errors really hurt us at key times. I have a lot of confidence. We have already shown a lot of growth."

"We are still waiting to have a full squad on the court. Injuries and sickness have hampered us in the early part of the season. We are hoping to get a couple of girls back shortly that will help us make a difference. Our younger players were up against some tough competition tonight, especially at the net where Montevallo is very good. 

"We will get back in the gym and go to work again tomorrow. Road trips are never easy but our girls have traveled their fair share in the early part of the season. There are never any easy games in the GSC."