September 17, 2025
Fort Worth, TX – Rivalry nights always carry extra weight, and Tuesday evening at the Sid Richardson Center was no exception. The Nelson University Lady Lions went toe-to-toe with Texas Wesleyan in a spirited Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) showdown, ultimately falling 3–1 (19–25, 26–24, 18–25, 19–25) in front of a lively crowd.
The Rams showed why they sit atop the conference standings, but Nelson fought with grit throughout the four-set contest.
Set by Set
Texas Wesleyan struck first, capitalizing on Nelson's early errors to take the opener 25–19. The Lady Lions answered in dramatic fashion, stealing momentum in the second set. With Mackenzie Smith powering through 14 kills on the night and Olivia Todd finishing with an efficient .571 hitting clip, Nelson clawed back to even the match, 26–24.
From there, however, the Rams' balanced attack proved too much. TWU's Hanna Rubis put on a clinic with 17 kills at a blistering .516 efficiency, while Sydney Alexander and Victoria Smith combined for 16 more kills to keep Nelson on its heels. The Lady Lions battled but dropped the final two sets 25–18 and 25–19.
Stat Leaders
As a team, Nelson finished with 50 kills but hit just .118 overall, while TWU countered with 51 kills at a strong .267 mark.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setback, the Lady Lions showed toughness against one of the league's top teams. They'll look to regroup quickly as conference play rolls on.
Next Up
Nelson returns home to Waxahachie on Friday, September 19, at 6:00 PM to host John Brown University (Ark.) at 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-NELSON.
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