October 8, 2024

Waxahachie, TX – The Nelson University Lady Lions defended their home turf in commanding fashion, sweeping the Texas Wesleyan Rams 3-0 in the first 2024 edition of the "Battle of 287" Tuesday night at the Sheaffer Center. The electric energy of the Lady Lions was only matched by the roar of a spectacular home crowd, setting the tone for a thrilling contest that saw Nelson maintain their flawless Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) record, moving to 11-0.

From the outset, the Lady Lions came out on fire. In the first set, they fed off the crowd's intensity, winning 25-19 while posting an impressive .226 hitting percentage. Though the Rams entered the match with a strong 9-1 SAC record, their struggles were evident early, especially in the second set where the Lady Lions capitalized on key hustle plays and solid defense. Nelson outlasted Texas Wesleyan, 25-14, in the second set, with a .192 hitting percentage compared to the Rams' abysmal -.093. 

The third set saw the Lady Lions firing on all cylinders, powered by standout performances from Lilly Hanna (9 kills, .353 hitting percentage), Alexandra Bonnett (8 kills, .389 hitting percentage), and Bailee Alexander (7 kills, .385 hitting percentage). With Cassidy Hargesheimer (16 assists) and Taylor Cavazos (15 assists) controlling the tempo, the Lady Lions sealed the set 25-20, claiming the sweep. They recorded an impressive .314 hitting percentage in the final set, while the Rams struggled with only .182.

Nelson's defense was also a crucial part of the victory, led by Tessa Glick with 16 digs and Mackenzie Smith adding 4 digs and 3 kills. The Lady Lions dominated at the net, recording 8 total blocks to the Rams' 2. Lindi Boling and Madison Petten each contributed 2 service aces, further showcasing Nelson's all-around dominance.

The Rams, despite their effort, could not overcome the errors (25 total) and were kept off-balance by Nelson's relentless pressure. Hanna Rubis led Texas Wesleyan with 8 kills, but it wasn't enough to shift momentum against the unstoppable Lady Lions.
 

What's Next?
The Lady Lions (16-4, 11-0 SAC) will look to continue their perfect conference run as they host the University of Science and Arts this Saturday, October 12, at 1 PM in the Sheaffer Center. 

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