OKLAHOMA CITY – The University of the Southwest Mustangs took the final two sets to rally from a 2-1 deficit and defeat the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels 3-2 tonight (Oct. 7) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
With the decisive fifth set even at 7-7, the Mustangs scored five straight points to take command.
Trailing 14-8, the Lady Evangels stayed alive and saved three match points before a kill by Lee Ann Ocasio closed out the win for the Mustangs.
The Lady Evangels opened the match strong, darting out to an 11-4 lead in the first set behind three kills from Shannon Niemeier and two kills each from Larissa Runyan and Laurel Church.
MACU remained in control at 23-15 before the Mustangs scored eight of the next nine points to come within 24-23.
But a kill from Emily Lynch gave the Lady Evangels the opening set and a 1-0 lead in the match.
The second set proved to be a reverse of the first, as it was the Mustangs taking control with a 17-10 lead, only to have the Lady Evangels answer with a 10-4 burst to trim the deficit to 21-20.
The Mustangs then scored the next two points and went on to a 25-22 win to even the match 1-1.
The third set would be one of the Lady Evangels' best all season, winning 25-12 while accumulating a 92 % hitting percentage.
Four kills by Melissa Hoppal and three kills each from Niemeier, Runyan and Church fueled the big third set win.
The Lady Evangels then led 21-20 in the fourth set with a chance to close out the match, only to have three consecutive kills by Ocasio spark a 5-1 run to finish it off 25-22 for USU and force the deciding fifth set.
Runyan led the Lady Evangels (7-11) with a career-high 17 kills, while Lynch recorded a career-best 49 assists along with 20 digs.
Church had 15 kills, followed by 14 from Niemeier. Camera Broadnax had a team-high 21 digs on the night.
Ocasio and Shelby Bartley each paced the Mustangs (17-5) with 13 kills. Brenda Pargas had a team-best 40 assists, with Kristen Silva leading the way with 21 digs.
The Lady Evangels will get right back at it tomorrow afternoon (Oct. 8) in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup at home against Texas Wesleyan University. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m.
