November 18, 2023
Waxahachie, TX - In a high-stakes showdown at the Sheaffer Center, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Lady Lions clashed with the Montana Western (MW) Bulldogs in the opening round of the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Tournament on Saturday evening. The Lady Lions, boasting an impressive 24-7 record, had secured their place in the tournament by clinching the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Regular Season Championship. This marked their third consecutive appearance in the NAIA Tournament Opening Round, demonstrating the team's unwavering excellence on the court and their determination to make a deep run in the championship.
On the opposing side, the Montana Western Bulldogs were making history with their debut appearance in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship. Having earned an automatic berth after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Rocky Mountain College in the Frontier Conference Tournament Championship, the Bulldogs entered the tournament with an overall season record of 21-6 and a three-game win streak, eager to make a statement in their inaugural championship appearance.
The championship tournament lived up to its billing, although the outcome was not in favor of the Lady Lions, who lost in three sets: 25-15, 25-19, and 25-21.
Lions Review
The Lady Lions' formidable trio of net monsters, Emma Tompkins, Alexandra Bonnett, and Bailee Alexander, opened the game strongly, each delivering powerful kills and providing robust net protection with a total of four blocks in the first set. Despite this promising start, the Lady Lions struggled to find consistent offensive traction in the opening set, facing an uncharacteristically low hitting percentage and early reception errors that proved costly, resulting in a 25-15 set win for Montana Western.
In the second set, the Lady Lions encountered difficulties in passing and setting, but Riley Burcham alleviated the troubles with well-placed assists. However, the Bulldogs maintained their momentum.
The final set saw Tessa Glick and Lindi Boling making commendable efforts in collecting digs, but Montana Western continued to dominate the statistical battle, ultimately sweeping the Lady Lions with a 25-21 set win.
Key contributors for the Lady Lions included Emma Tompkins, who finished with ten kills and five blocks, Riley Burcham with 16 assists, and Tessa Glick providing nine digs.
Looking Ahead
With the conclusion of another historic season, the Lady Lions will now turn their attention to the offseason, reflecting on their achievements and gearing up for future challenges. Despite the tournament setback, the SAGU Lady Lions remain a force to be reckoned with, leaving a lasting impact on the NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship stage.
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.
