August 18, 2023

Butte, Montana: With a pair of matches facing Eastern Oregon University and College of Saint Mary (Neb.) in the Big Sky Tournament on Friday, the No. 10 Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Lady Lions Volleyball team began their 2023 season. 

The Lady Lions (0-2, 0-0) snapped their flawless season-opening game record of 9 consecutive season-opening wins after losing to Eastern Oregon University in three sets 25-23, 25-14, and 25-16. In the day's second match, the Lady Lions would lose to College of Saint Mary (Neb.) after a dramatic five-set match 26-24, 19-25, 21-25, 25-20, and 6-15.
 

Lion Review

• Emma Tompkins delivered the first points of the Lady Lion's 2023 season on a kill assisted by Cassidy Hargesheimer. 

• Emma Tompkins and Riley Burcham, the team captains, would continue where they left off in the 2022 season to join up for the subsequent Lady Lion score, halting Eastern Oregon's early scoring run.

• There was a ton of excellent play in the game. Eastern Oregon was outstanding at the net and had several blocks. Tessa Glick's digs helped SAGU's defense remain afloat while the offense dispersed the ball brilliantly.  

• Eastern Oregon took the opening set with a crucial 25-23 victory over the Lady Lions. Emma Tompkins finished the first set with five kills, Bailee Alexander added three, and Riley Burcham led SAGU with seven assists. After the opening set, Lindi Boling was the team's digs leader with six.

• Eastern Oregon won the second set over the Lady Lions 25-14. Eastern Oregon grew a sizable lead from solo and assisted blocks. After two sets, both teams had 33 digs and over 20 assists, but the Eastern Oregon play at the next was the difference maker in the match through two sets of play. 

• In the final set of game one, attack errors hurt the Lady Lions as they would drop the 2023 season-opening match.

• In the day's second game, Abby Wells hit the ball very well; her swings were fluid and powerful. The SAGU defense looked to be as tall and sturdy as oak trees blocking several College of Saint Mary kills; Emma Tompkins and Karena Tipton's performance at the net was exceptional. 

• The College of Saint Mary took the lead decisively in the fifth and final match of the incredible action.
   

More from Moore

"Off to a tough start. But we knew it would be a tough schedule. This morning we opened up with a loss to No. 3 Eastern Oregon, 23-25, 15-25, and 17-25. We played tentatively in the entire match. We did have some great play but could not sustain any consistency. We played a very good No. 18 College of St. Mary's in our second match. It was a tough-fought match, 26-24, 19-25, 22-25, 25-20, and 8-15. We could not get anything going; sometimes, that is how it goes. This is a game of process; we are working, and good things are ahead. Our freshmen really stepped in today and played very good volleyball. We will get better as the season goes. I'm a very proud coach, our kids believe in each other, and they are trusting the process," SAGU Head Volleyball Coach Hank Moore said.

 

The Next Step

The Lady Lions' next game is Day 2 of the Big Sky Tournament on Saturday, August 19. At 11:00 MT, Noon CT, SAGU will play Montana Tech, and at 3:00 MT, 4:00 MT, University of Providence (Mont. ), the tournament action will conclude.

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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.