September 13, 2025
Waxahachie, TX – The Nelson University Lady Lions volleyball team battled through a Saturday doubleheader at the Sheaffer Center on September 13, taking down the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) in the afternoon before falling to nationally ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) in the evening.
Game 1 – Lady Lions 3, USAO 1
The opener against USAO saw Nelson come out swinging. Behind a balanced attack and gritty defense, the Lady Lions captured the first two sets convincingly, 25–20 and 25–12. USAO responded with a push in the third, edging Nelson 25–23, but the Lady Lions dug in for a dramatic 26–24 fourth-set win to close the match.
Samantha Moore paced the offense with 12 kills on a .324 hitting percentage, while Alexandra Bonnett added 10 kills and 17 digs in a strong two-way effort. Setter Taylor Cavazos dished out 19 assists and chipped in defensively with 10 digs. Nelson's frontline was anchored by Mackenzie Smith, who contributed 9 kills and 4 block assists. The win pushed Nelson to 4–0 in SAC play.
Game 2 – OKWU 3, Lady Lions 0
In the evening tilt, the Lady Lions faced a battle-tested Oklahoma Wesleyan squad that entered the match 9–1. Despite a spirited effort, Nelson fell in straight sets (25–22, 26–24, 25–21).
The Lions traded blows with OKWU throughout, especially in the second set that went extra points. Bonnett again led the offense with 13 kills, supported by Olivia Todd's efficient 5 kills on a .385 clip. Cavazos tallied 25 assists and 17 digs to lead the back row, while Hailey Nixon anchored the defense with 17 digs. Although the result went against them, Nelson's ability to hang with one of the conference's top programs was a promising sign.
Next Up
The Lady Lions now turn their focus to a rivalry showdown, traveling to face Texas Wesleyan University on Tuesday, September 16, at 7:00 PM in Fort Worth, Texas.
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.
