Eagles Fall to Lions in Season Opener

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark.  (8/26/25) – The Williams Baptist University volleyball team fell to Freed-Hardeman by the final score of 3-1 (20-25, 16-25, 29-27, 14-25) in its season opener on Tuesday night inside the Southerland-Mabee Center

The Eagles were limited to just .062 attack percentage on the night, while the Lions managed .218.  Payton Bond led the way for the Eagles with eight kills, and Tinleigh Ruhman followed with six.  Hope Raymond led the team in digs with 15, and Amber Kahler posted six assists.

FHU took a 10-4 lead early in the first set behind the strong serve of Becca Heineman, but the Eagles went on a run of their own behind Desirae Walker to cut the lead to 13-12.  Later in the set, a kill from Tinleigh Ruhman cut the Lion lead to three, but Freed-Hardeman was able to close out set one 25-20.

The Lions went on a late run in the second frame, taking five of the last six points to take the set 23-16 and go up 2-0 in the set count.

The third set was tightly contested in its entirety, with the largest lead coming only by four points.  WBU went on a 4-0 run to close the gap and take the lead at 20-19.  With the match on the line, Hope Raymond stepped up with the kill to keep the Eagles alive.  Williams took the last three points of the set, culminating in an emphatic kill from Payton Bond to give the Eagles the 29-27 set win.

In the fourth set, FHU took seven of the first eight points to run away with the frame, and the match.  The Eagles took three points in a row behind the serve of Tinleigh Ruhman, but were unable to close the gap.

The loss drops WBU to 0-1 on the season.  Next, the Lady Eagles travel to Branson, Mo. for the College of the Ozarks Classic.  Williams will face the host team on Friday, Aug. 29 at 4:30 p.m.