Winfield, Kan. -- Cris Smith tallied 24 kills in two matches to lead the Mid-America Christian Lady Evangels to a pair of victories at the Jinx Jamboree in Winfield, Kan. MACU defeated the Ottawa (Kan.) Lady Braves in the first match 3-2 and then the host Southwestern (Kan.) Lady Builders 3-0. The scores were 16-25, 25-17, 18-25, 25-17, 15-13 vs. Ottawa and then 25-16, 25-23, 25-20 against Southwestern.
The Lady Evangels had to rally from 2-1 down in the opener against the Lady Braves. MACU squared the match at 2-2 by winning the fourth set 25-17 and then took the deciding fifth by a dramatic count of 15-13.
Smith led the Lady Evangels' attack in the victory over the Lady Braves with 17 kills, while Taryn Walker contributed 10 kills. Callie Solie had a team-best 37 assists for the Lady Evangels.
The Lady Evangels controlled the match from the outset against the Lady Builders, winning the first set 25-16. The second set was closer as the Lady Evangels won 25-23 and then finished off the victory by winning the third set 25-20.
Smith and Solie each had seven kills and Solie again led the Lady Evangels (5-2) with 25 assists.
The 5-2 start to the season is the Lady Evangels' best since joining the NAIA in 2007.
MACU will get back at it with a matchup at Southwestern Oklahoma State on Monday evening (Sept. 6) at 7 p.m. in Weatherford, Okla.
