Plainview, Texas -- The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels fell 3-0 to the No. 11-ranked Wayland Baptist University Pioneers in their Sooner Athletic Conference opener tonight (Sept. 11) in Plainview, Texas. 

The Lady Evangels dropped the first two sets 25-8 and 25-9, but hung around and trailed only 15-14 in the third set. 

But the Pioneers (5-4, 1-0 SAC) buckled down and scored the next five points to pull away for the win, 25-18 in the third.  

Athena Koch and Lauren McKinney each led the Lady Evangels (2-6, 0-1 SAC) with four kills, while Hannah Luedtke had a team-high 12 assists. Jenny Pratt tallied a match-best nine digs for MACU. 

Shahala Hawkins bolstered the Pioneers' offense with a match-high 16 kills and Ashlyn Westerman led everyone with 31 assists. 

The Lady Evangels will stick around in Plainview and compete in the Coca-Cola Classic this weekend on the campus of WBU.