September 12, 2025

Waxahachie, TX – The Nelson University Lady Lions returned home to the Sheaffer Center on Friday night for a matchup with Mid-America Christian University (Okla.), but the night was about more than just volleyball. Before first serve, the Lions faithful packed the gym to honor the 2024 Sooner Athletic Conference Regular Season Champions with a special ring ceremony.

The celebration set the tone, and Nelson rode that energy straight into a three-set sweep over the visiting Evangels, taking the match 27-25, 25-15, 25-22.

The first set was a back-and-forth battle, featuring nine ties and three lead changes, but clutch swings from Alexandra Bonnett and Mackenzie Smith lifted the Lions to a narrow 27-25 win. Nelson never looked back. In set two, the Lady Lions dominated both at the net and from the service line, holding MACU to a .167 hitting percentage while rolling to a commanding 25-15 finish.

The third frame saw MACU push hard to extend the night, but Nelson's balance proved too much. Bonnett led all players with 12 kills and 13 digs, showing her two-way impact, while setter Taylor Cavazos dished out 15 assists and added three aces to keep the pressure on. Caroline Boone was efficient in the middle with six kills on a .375 clip, while Samantha Moore and Smith chipped in six kills apiece.

Defensively, Nelson dug deep, literally, outpacing MACU 75 to 75 in digs, led by Hailey Nixon's 16 from the back row. The Lions also controlled the net with 12 team blocks, highlighted by Boone, Moore, and Smith combining for six block assists.

The energy inside the Sheaffer Center was electric, and the night became a true celebration of past and present success, honoring champions while watching the current squad continue to protect home court.

Next Up
The Lady Lions now turn the page to a Saturday doubleheader at the Sheaffer Center, squaring off against the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) at 1:00 PM and Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) at 5:00 PM.

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.