October 20, 2025

Point Lookout, MO / Siloam Springs, AR – The Nelson University Lady Lions volleyball team wrapped up a two-match Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) road swing with a weekend split, falling in a five-set thriller to College of the Ozarks (Mo.) before bouncing back in dominant fashion to take down John Brown University 3–1.

Game One: at College of the Ozarks (L, 2–3)
In a back-and-forth battle at Keeter Gym, the Lady Lions went the distance but came up just short, 21–25, 25–21, 25–16, 22–25, 18–16. Outside hitter Samantha Moore and sophomore Mackenzie Smith powered the attack with 17 kills apiece, while Addison Standley added 14 kills on a strong .379 hitting percentage. Setter Taylor Cavazos dished out 47 assists and anchored the back row with 18 digs, while libero Chloe Munoz added 15 digs to stabilize the defense.

Despite the narrow loss, the Lady Lions out-hit the Bobcats (.219 to .220) and showed resilience through 24 tie scores and 8 lead changes across the match.

Game Two: Lions Bounce Back at John Brown (W, 3–1)
Nelson responded with focus and energy on Saturday afternoon, earning a 21–25, 25–10, 25–21, 25–17 victory over John Brown at Bill George Arena. Alexandra Bonnett dominated at the net with 15 kills and an impressive .368 hitting percentage, while Standley tallied 12 kills and 13 points. Smith added 7 kills and 8.5 total points, while Cavazos again commanded the offense with 38 assists and 12 digs. As a team, Nelson hit .301 overall, one of their most efficient matches of the season and recorded 9 service aces led by Taylor Felux (3) and Cavazos (4).

Next Up: Senior Night – Purple Out
The Lady Lions (15–9, 13–2 SAC) return home to the Sheaffer Center on Friday, October 24 at 6:00 PM to host Southwestern Christian University for Senior Night. Fans are encouraged to wear purple and cheer loud as Nelson celebrates its senior class and pushes for a strong postseason finish.

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-NELSON.