Lee coach Andrea Hudson’s volleyball team will head for Iowa with the sweet taste of victory fresh on their minds. The Lady Flames opened the 2010 home season with a 3-0 decision over Lindsey Wilson College on Monday evening.

Lee never trailed, winning the first set 25-16. The Lady Flames bounced back from a mild Blue Raider rally and claimed the second game, 25-17. The third set was all Lee (25-14).

“It was an exciting night,” said coach Hudson. “We got to play on our new sport court for the first time. The crowd was great. (I hope it stays that way.) I liked the way our girls played together tonight. We had been a little scattered in that area over the past couple of weeks.”

Junior Christa Hutchison paced the balanced Lee offensive attack. She was a perfect .1000 with nine kills in nine attempts. “Christa has worked hard over the summer months. It showed tonight,” said Hudson.

Newcomer Arlene Ferreira already has the fans buzzing about her play, and the tremendous leaper didn’t disappoint. The transfer finished with a game-high 10 kills. She added six digs and a block. Junior Stephanie Todd countered with eight kills and six digs. Senior Kayla Carlisle finished with seven kills and a block. All totaled Lee had 43 kills compared to just 21 for the losers.

Lee’s setters, Gretchen Higdon (19 assists) and Kelsey Leffew (18 assists), took up where they left off last season in helping the Lady Flames reach the final four for the first time. Higdon also had two aces. Sarah Smith did her usual thing with 19 digs and a pair of aces. Valquiria Caboclo paced Lee with a couple of nifty blocks.

For the Blue Raiders, Audra McNabney, Kayla Koerber and Sydney Harvey had seven kills apiece. Andrea Taylor contributed 21 assists and Rachael Anderson came up with 12 digs.

Lee hits the road for four big matches in the Northwestern College Classic (Iowa) on Friday and Saturday. It will mark the first big NAIA tests for the fourth-ranked Lady Flames.