LEBANON, Tenn. -- On Friday as part of the Cumberland Volleydawg Classic, the Reinhardt University volleyball team opened its 2010 season and began a new era under first-year head coach Jenny Hayes with two decisive wins. Reinhardt started with a 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 26-24) victory over the Pikeville (Ky.) College Lady Bears before coming right back with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-7) triumph against the Tennessee Temple University Crusaders (from Chattanooga). Cumberland University, Hayes' alma mater, is hosting the two-day, six-team event at Dallas Floyd Recreation Center.  

In the season-opening win, the Lady Eagles collected 35 kills to Pikeville's 33, and each squad had 17 attack errors. Reinhardt also edged the Lady Bears in assists (31-29) and service aces (8-6).

For the Lady Eagles, SaVanna Strickland posted eight kills while Candace Turcotte finished with seven kills, a match-high four service aces and a .312 attack percentage. Sami Lane contributed six kills and eight digs while Courtney Byrd came up with a match-best 16 assists and six digs. Brandi Ward added eight digs.

Reinhardt dominated Tennessee Temple in its second match of the day, ending with a .377 hitting percentage (35 kills and nine errors in 69 attacks), compared to just -.043 (10 kills and 12 errors in 47 attempts) for the Lady Crusaders. The Lady Eagles had 21 service aces and TTU none.

Lane led the winners with a match-high 11 kills, a .556 attack percentage and five digs while Tori O'Brien produced a match-best 10 service aces. Kayla Spivey was credited with six kills and a .556 hitting percentage while Turcotte had six kills and a .400 attack percentage. Sarah Richards registered five kills and a .625 hitting percentage while Byrd dished out a match-high 25 assists. Ashley Robinson chipped in with seven digs.

Reinhardt is 2-0 overall on the young season while Pikeville is 0-1 and Tennessee Temple 0-2. The Lady Eagles will play two more matches in Lebanon on Saturday, taking on the Faulkner University Eagles (out of Montgomery, Ala.) at 9 a.m. Central time (10 a.m. Eastern) and the Mountain State University Lady Cougars (from Beckley, W.Va.) at 1 p.m. Central (2 p.m. Eastern).