CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Regrouping after a slow start, the Lee University volleyball team displayed the variety of talent in defeating visiting Lincoln Memorial University 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-17) on Tuesday evening in an exhibition contest. The Lady Flames will officially open the 2025 season on Friday, Sept. 5 when they travel to Greeneville, Tenn. to take part in the Tusculum University Invitational.

Sophomore Payton Danley helped direct the comeback in the opening set with six kills. She finished the evening with 11 kills and an outstanding .567 attack percentage. Danley went to the net for three blocks.

Newcomer Esthefany Rabit (6-foot-4) is certain to become a fan favorite before the season ends. She tallied four straight points to wrap up the final set and finished with 10 kills overall plus adding a team leading five blocks. Berra Soyler and Sara Palumbo countered with seven kills apiece while Palumbo chipped in with a pair of aces and two blocks.  

Sophia Lippert returned from knee surgery last season and recorded six slams while Olivia Reevey recorded four kills and a pair of blocks. The Lady Flames had three players in double-digit assists. Newcomer Sydney Sharpe was the leader with 14. Madison Dahl followed closely with 12 and Soyler added 11. Izzy Denton went to the floor for 14 digs and Mikayla Buhr added eight.

The Railsplitters were paced by Alexia McGee with five kills while Kaytlin Johnson and Sarah Robbins chipped in with four apiece. The Lee defense held LMU to only a .024 attack percentage. Carley Raleigh had nine assists and two aces.