August 31, 2024
Waxahachie, TX – The Nelson University Lady Lions Volleyball team faced a formidable challenge in their final match of the Texas Two Step Tournament, falling to the College of Idaho in straight sets (23-25, 17-25, 20-25) at the Sheaffer Center in Waxahachie, Texas.
Despite the energy and excitement surrounding their earlier triumph, the Lady Lions (4-5, 0-0) encountered a relentless Yotes squad from the College of Idaho (6-4, 0-0) that dominated key moments of the match. The opening set saw the Lady Lions pushing the Yotes to their limits, but a series of well-placed attacks and solid defense from the opposition edged out Nelson with a narrow 25-23 victory.
The second set was characterized by the Yotes' impressive hitting efficiency, posting a .424 attack percentage, which stifled the Lady Lions' efforts to gain any momentum. Nelson struggled to find a rhythm, ultimately falling 17-25 as Idaho's offense continued to pressure their defenses.
In the third and final set, the Lady Lions fought valiantly, attempting to mount a comeback. However, the Yotes' balanced offense and strategic plays sealed the match with a 25-20 win, concluding the tournament on a challenging note for Nelson.
Game Highlights
Bailee Alexander led the Lady Lions with 10 kills, while Lilly Hanna contributed 9 kills, both showing glimpses of offensive prowess despite the tough match. The Lady Lions' service game remained strong, with Cassidy Hargesheimer recording 5 aces and Madison Petten adding another. However, the team's attack struggled against a formidable Yotes' defense, resulting in a .154 hitting percentage overall.
Defensively, Tessa Glick was a standout with 21 digs, showcasing her resilience and determination throughout the match. The blocking efforts were led by Lilly Hanna, who tallied 2.0 blocks, with contributions from Mackenzie Smith and Samantha Moore.
Despite the loss, the Lady Lions demonstrated moments of strong play, particularly in their defensive efforts, as seen in their 52 digs. However, the Yotes' well-rounded performance ultimately proved too much for Nelson to overcome.
Next Up
The Lady Lions will regroup and prepare to kick off Sooner Athletic Conference play on Thursday, September 5, against the University of Science and Arts (USAO) Drovers (4-3). The match will take place in Chickasha, Oklahoma, with a 7:00 PM start time.
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.
