OKLAHOMA CITY -- Making their first appearance in the Sooner Athletic Conference postseason tournament since 2007, the seventh-seeded Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels gave a gritty effort before succombing  to the second-seeded Oklahoma City University Stars today (Nov. 7) 3-0 at Abe Lemons Arena on the OCU campus. 

OCU now moves onto the SAC semifinals on Wednesday (Nov. 11) against No. 4 seed John Brown University, who defeated fifth-seeded Southwestern Assemblies of God University earlier today. 

The Stars cruised to a 25-13 win in the first set, but the Lady Evangels made things very interesting in the second set. 

MACU jumped out to a 12-8 edge in the second and still was on top 19-18 on a kill by Hannah Luedtke. 

The Stars rebounded with four of the next five points to lead 22-20 and had a match point at 24-22.  

The Lady Evangels wouldn't go quietly and proceeded to save four match points thanks to kills from Larissa Runyan, Mary Burkhead and Luedtke before OCU finally used a kill from Fia Faa'agi and a MACU attack error to close out the set 28-26 and go up 2-0. 

MACU again got off to a quick start and led 19-15 in the third set when two kills from Holly Randall capped a run of 7-1 that put OCU on top 22-20 and the Stars then finished the set and match 25-22. 

Laurel Church led the Lady Evangels (15-13) with 12 kills and Luedtke produced 20 assists.  Camera Broadnax had a team-high 11 digs for MACU. 

Tori Leisure paced the Stars (20-7) with 12 kills and Heather Watson recorded a match-high 31 assists.  Dani Chase led OCU with 11 digs. 

The Lady Evangels will now await the time and date of their next opponent that will take place in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Regional tournament.