OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels opened up the Sooner Athletic Conference season by defeating the Bacone College Lady Warriors tonight (Sept. 15) 3-1 inside the Gaulke Activity Center to improve to 8-2 on the season, their best start through 10 games since joining the NAIA in 2007.  

The Lady Evangels raced to a 2-0 lead over the Lady Warriors with wins of 25-17 in the first set and 25-20 in the second. 

Bacone then took the third set 25-23 to stay in the match by scoring three of the final four points of the game. 

It was 12-12 in the fourth set when a pair of kills by Emily Lynch keyed a 6-1 spurt that gave the Lady Evangels some breathing room at 18-13. 

Mary Burkhead and Larissa Runyan then each registered two kills to help the Lady Evangels close out the set and the match 25-19. 

Lynch paced the Lady Evangels (8-2, 1-0 SAC) with a match-high 14 kills, while Hannah Luedtke led everyone with 34 assists and also had 10 digs.  Runyan recorded a match-best 20 digs and Camera Broadnax also registered double-figure digs with 15 on the night. 

Gladymar Echeverria led the Lady Warriors (0-10, 0-1 SAC) with 13 kills and Keona Leano had a team-best 32 assists.  Angie Daigle and Julianne Tuiolosega each had a team-best 16 digs. 

The Lady Evangels will continue SAC action by hosting Oklahoma City University Thursday night (Sept. 17) at 7 p.m.