CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The Lee University volleyball team, ranked third going into its final season of NAIA membership, begins that season today and Saturday by hosting five other teams in Paul Dana Walker Arena. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) and Indiana Wesleyan tip off the tournament at 10 this morning, followed by 20th-ranked Lindsey Wilson and Xavier (La.) at noon and Lee against Indiana Wesleyan at 2 p.m. Olivet faces Union College (Ky.) at 4:30, and Lee and Xavier finish the first day at 7. Coach Andrea Hudson's host Lady Flames will play Olivet at 11 a.m. and Lindsey Wilson at 5 p.m. Saturday. "We are so excited to get the season started this weekend against some quality NAIA teams," said Hudson, who hopes to reach the milestone of 700 wins today. She has a 698-227 career record, and Lee has reached the NAIA national final four the last three seasons, but seven seniors graduated from last year's 34-3 squad. "Obviously we are not where I know we will be, but we will not know how to move forward until we see some quality competition," Hudson said, "and this week will certainly supply that." The Lady Flames play next weekend in a tournament in Irvine, Calif.
Golf
• JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. -- Danny Green of Jackson and Tim Dinwiddie of Afton followed their first-round 67s with 72s Thursday at Blackthorn Club and lead third-place Buzz Fly of Memphis by four shots with one round to go in the 42nd annual Tennessee Senior Amateur Championship. Randall Yoder of Chattanooga is fifth at 146, two shots behind Kingsport's Bill Argarbrite, and Chattanooga's Larry McGill and Neil Spitalny are tied for eighth and 12th, respectively, at 149 and 150. Chattanooga's Ronnie Law leads the Super Senior division by five shots at 141 (70-71). Signal Mountain's John Felker shares seventh place at 157.
Soccer
• LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Lee University men's soccer team began its season Thursday evening with a 3-2 win at Lakeland University. Senior Sias Reyneke scored off a rebound for the deciding goal in the 70th minute, after helping junior Chevon Roberts assist senior Luke Cuthbert on a tying first goal in the 41st minute. Junior Josh Ball's penalty kick put Lee ahead 11 minutes into the second half, but Southeastern made it 2-2 in the 67th minute. Freshman Tom Halsall had five saves in goal for the Flames, who play Saturday at Embry-Riddle, which is ranked 24th in the NAIA preseason poll.
Auto Racing
• Cleveland Speedway has released the news that one of the area's top Crate/Late Model race drivers, Brian Pritchard of Harrison, is scheduled for Sept. 4 surgery to remove his right kidney and will be sidelined the rest of the racing season. Pritchard, also a school bus driver, confirmed that a mass was discovered inside the kidney and a biopsy will be done upon the organ's removal.