September 5, 2025

Oklahoma City, OK – The Nelson University Lady Lions volleyball team opened Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) play in style on Friday evening, rallying past Oklahoma City University for a 3–1 road victory inside the Freede Center.

The Stars came out swinging, taking the first set 25–18. But the Lady Lions quickly settled in and turned the momentum their way. Nelson responded with poise and power, evening the match in set two with a 25–19 win, before controlling the third (25–20) and slamming the door in the fourth (25–16).

Mackenzie Smith was a force at the net, hammering down 13 kills on a .370 hitting percentage to pace the offense. She got plenty of help from Alexandra Bonnett, who added 11 kills and 15 digs, and Samantha Moore, who chipped in 9 kills and 3 blocks. 

The Lady Lions' balanced attack was fueled by strong distribution from Taylor Cavazos, who dished out 14 assists and served up 3 aces, while Sophia Salas added 16 assists to keep the offense rolling.

Defensively, libero Hailey Nixon anchored the back row with 20 digs, stifling OCU's attempts to mount a comeback.

By the end of the night, Nelson had racked up 51 kills to OCU's 42, while also dominating from the service line with 8 aces.

The Lady Lions showed their championship-level toughness after dropping the opening frame, winning three straight sets to secure a convincing start to their SAC campaign.

Next U
The Lady Lions have a quick turnaround for more conference action, heading to Bethany, OK to face Southwestern Christian University on Saturday, September 6 at 1:00 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.