Oklahoma City, OK – SAGU Volleyball found themselves in a battle as they took on Mid-America Christian on Friday night in the Gaulke Activity Center. Though the Lions started the fifth match strong maintaining a two-point lead, Mid-America rallied to take the lead and eventually the match. With this loss, the Lions now sit at 18-7 on the year and 11-4 in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
In set one both teams exchanged kills, but it was SAGU who went on a 4-1 run to take a 9-7 lead over the Evangels. MACU would eventually rally, and Cloie Mitchell and Hanna Foecker gave the Evangels three straight points to take the lead. This didn't slow down the Lions though as they battled back and took their largest lead of the night at 19-16 behind a resilient
Ava Myers kill. MACU would eventually rattle off seven straight points to take a 23-19, which would prove to be too much for the Lions as MACU took the 25-22 set one victory.
SAGU came out fighting in the second set taking five of the first seven points. After a MACU rally, the Lions scored four unanswered points, which would start a 12-2 run for SAGU. They took a commanding 17-7 lead and eventually took the 25-17 set two victory.
Both teams continued to exchange blows in set three as SAGU and Mid-America were evenly matched with ties at 20-20, 21-21, and 23-23. It was MACU that capitalized first with a crucial kill then a service ace to take the 25-23 victory.
SAGU took three straight points early in set four to give them a 5-4 edge, but midway through the set as both teams were tied at 13-all, the Lions dominated by taking seven of the next nine points and taking a 20-15 lead. The Evangel fought their way back, but the Lions finished strong by taking three of the last four and tying the match with a 25-22 set four victory.
Set five proved to be a classic as SAGU went on an early run to take the lead, but MACU fought their way back into the set to draw it even at 6-6. The Lions rallied scoring a pair of points to give them a two-point cushion, but once again the Evangels battled back with a kill and a service ace. SAGU would go on to score the next two of three and take the 10-9 advantage on a
Jancee Akers kill, but MACU would go on to rattle off four of the next five points, which would prove to be too much for the Lions as they battled back to make it 14-13 but fell 15-13.
Highlights:
- Both teams were evenly matched statically throughout the match. SAGU had 58 kills with a .161 hitting percentage while MACU had 57 kills on a .158 hitting percentage.
- Ava Myers totaled 19 kills on the night while Emma Tompkins added 10 and Jancee Akers added 9.
- Tompkins had a solid defensive game up front as she had 7 blocks
- Riley Burcham anchored the offense with 46 assists, but she also added 4 blocks on the night.
- Tessa Glick led the Lions back court with 21 digs while Alexis Mealer added 17 digs and Faith Marroquinn added 15 digs.
Up Next:
The Lions face off against Science and Arts in Chickasha, Oklahoma on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
As a leading Christian university, SAGU educates and prepares individuals who want to serve Christ and others. SAGU helps students discover and develop their God-given callings in a Spirit-empowered, learning community. We believe in affordable tuition, made possible in part through the financial support of donors who embrace the mission of SAGU and the importance of affordable, accredited programs to train Christians for leadership in ministry, business, education, and service. Most majors are available in-person in Waxahachie, TX, and online through a wide range of associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
