September 30, 2022
Waxahachie, TX: On their Homecoming weekend, the No. 9 Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Lady Lions volleyball team hosted John Brown University (JBU) in the Sheaffer Center. Emma DeSanti, a JBU transfer, and Madeline Nolan, Emma-Kate Schaefer, and Ella Yarborough, a quartet of freshmen, are all new members of the JBU team, which finished the 2021 season with an overall record of 18-16. These dynamic additions for JBU join the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) point leader Savanna Rainey. The unbeaten Lady Lions would aim to neutralize the JBU club on the verge of making a massive breakthrough in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) competition by utilizing strong defense, long net protection, and clever passing.
The Lady Lions (18-0, 10-0) spanked JBU (12-4, 7-2) in three sets, 25-19, 25-16, and 25-20.
Lion Review
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The first volleyball set saw the Lady Lions and Golden Eagles launch utter haymakers at one another with slamming kills and sliding digs.
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Lilly Hanna commanded play at the net in the opening set by disrupting Golden Eagle kills and completing Tessa Glick's assists with her exceptional athleticism and height.
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Emma Tompkins would give her all while delivering kills while flying from a rooftop for her home supporters who had missed her.
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Ava Myers energized the home crowd in the second set by emphatically blocking a kill attempt by the Golden Eagles.
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Using the counsel of SAGU volleyball assistant coach Nick Moore, Alexandra Bonnett would check in and have an instant impression on the second set.
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Intense swings from Abby Wells would bounce off JBU outside hitters and score SAGU points.
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Riley Burcham would set up Emma Tompkins for the assist-kill combination that the dynamic combo has produced for the Lady Lions all season.
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With the score knotted at 14 in the third set, Samantha Rico dug a Golden Eagle swing that resulted in an Abby Wells kill.
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The Lady Lions' victory in the match was due mainly to Lindi Boling's defense and touch on the SAGU defensive back line.
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The Sheaffer Center erupted in "Abby, Abby, Abby" chants as Wells scored the game's last point.
More from Moore:
"This was a great night for our team. JBU is one of the top programs in the NAIA. They should be a top 25 team. We had some great play from Emma Tompkins. 11 kills on just 15 swings. Emma hit .733, which is her season best. Our defense was outstanding. We held the conference point leader Savanna Rainey to just nine kills. Karena Tipton changed many of Rainey's swings that led to SAGU points. 18-0 and 10-0 in conference play is a great way to finish the first round of conference play. I'm very proud of our kids and how hard they are working. We need to keep improving. Growth is our only goal. Keep growing; that will continue to be our focus," SAGU Head Volleyball Coach Hank Moore said.
The Next Step
The SAGU Lady Lions are on the road Friday, October 7th, to take on Central Christian College after dominating the first half of conference play.
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.
