Point Lookout, MO — The Lady Lions faced a challenging two-game road trip against two very tough teams in the Sooner Athletic Conference title race, taking on College of the Ozarks and John Brown University in back-to-back matches Friday and Saturday. Nelson opened the weekend Friday with a statement win, defeating College of the Ozarks 3-1.
The Bobcats stunned Nelson in the opening set, taking it 25-22 and putting the Lady Lions in an unfamiliar position. It marked the first time Nelson had dropped the opening set since the start of the season on August 29, when Evangel took the first set before the Lady Lions bounced back to win the match in straight sets.
Much like their early-season matchup against Evangel, the Lady Lions responded to the early setback by winning the next three sets to secure a huge victory. Nelson made quick work of the second set, winning 25-13, but the third set turned into an absolute barn burner. The two teams battled back and forth into extra points before the Lady Lions finally pulled away to win the set 33-31. With all the momentum on their side, Nelson closed the door in the fourth set, winning 25-13 to seal the 3-1 victory.
One of the biggest takeaways from Nelson's performance was the team's versatility, with several players finding ways to contribute across multiple statistical categories.
Addison Standley delivered another outstanding performance, leading the Lady Lions with 16 kills while also recording 10 digs.
Mackenzie Smith added nine kills and made her presence felt defensively at the net with eight blocks.
Savannah Bergman also contributed eight blocks, while
Keara Savory-Calbo led the team with 10.
For the first time this season,
Cassidy Hargesheimer did not lead Nelson in assists, as
Ashlyn Cavazos paced the team with 20 assists compared to Hargesheimer's 17. However, Hargesheimer made her mark in another category, leading the Lady Lions with six service aces.
Camdyn Owen, typically a defensive force at the net, also made an impact offensively with seven kills. Meanwhile,
Chloe Munoz continued to anchor Nelson's defense, finishing with 18 digs.
The victory extends the Lady Lions' winning streak to 17 matches while keeping them undefeated in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
Up Next
Nelson will look to carry that momentum into the second half of its road trip Saturday when it takes on John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
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.
