October 19, 2024
Point Lookout, MO – The No. 22 Nelson University Lady Lions hit the road and delivered a dominant 3-0 sweep (25-8, 26-24, 25-13) against the College of the Ozarks in their non-conference matchup on Saturday afternoon. The victory marked their 20th win of the season, bringing their record to 20-4 overall and an impressive 15-0 in Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) play.
Lady Lions Review
The Lady Lions came out strong in the first set, holding the College of the Ozarks to a negative hitting percentage (.000) while delivering a blistering .452 hitting rate of their own. Lilly Hanna was unstoppable at the net, tallying 11 kills without committing a single error and hitting an incredible .846. Her standout performance led Nelson to a decisive first set win at 25-8.
Nelson faced more resistance in the second set, as the College of the Ozarks fought back with a .225 hitting percentage. But the Lady Lions showed resilience, edging out the Bobcats 26-24 thanks to key contributions from Mackenzie Smith, who registered 10 kills on just 18 swings, and Samantha Moore, who added 4 blocks.
The Lady Lions sealed the deal in the third set with another commanding performance, hitting .455 as a team. Caroline Boone chipped in 9 kills, while Tessa Glick provided an anchor on defense with 20 digs, controlling the game with her exceptional passing.
Head Volleyball Coach Moore praised the team's growth and grit, saying, "We were led by the consistent play of both our setters and great net play by Mackenzie Smith. Mack had 10 kills on just 18 swings. Lilly Hanna led us in kills with 11 and zero errors for an .864 hitting percentage. Tessa Glick had another stellar day with 20 digs. These kids stepped up today and played at a very high level. Growth is our #1 goal, and they are definitely doing that, growing every day."
Next Up
The Lady Lions return home to face Oklahoma Panhandle State University on Friday, October 25 at 7:00 PM in Waxahachie, TX at the Sheaffer Center. The team looks to maintain their perfect SAC record and keep the momentum rolling.
Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU
