ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Mid-America Christian University volleyball team knew they were facing a tough test on Saturday afternoon, but that is a big part of why the match was put on the schedule. The Henderson State University Reddies entered the match riding an 11-match winning streak over some very good NCAA Division II programs, and the Evangels were unable to end that string.

MACU (7-3) fought hard, but the Evangels were unable to slow the Reddies' (13-2) offense, as Henderson State took the win in straight sets 25-19, 25-9, 25-16.

The Evangels took the first four points of the match, but HSU quickly answered with eight straight points to take the lead. The Evangels used another 6-2 spurt to knot the score at 12 midway through the first set, but another 8-0 run from the Reddies put HSU on top 20-12. MACU closed to within three at 21-18, but that was as close as they were able to get, and Henderson State took the first set 25-19.

MACU again scored first in the second stanza, but the Reddies inched in front, and midway through the set, a series of long runs helped HSU put the set away. Two 6-0 runs and a 4-0 spurt turned an 8-5 HSU lead into a commanding 24-7 advantage on their way to a 25-9 set win.

After MACU again won the first point of the third set, HSU rattled off five straight points to take control again. MACU closed the gap to 7-5, but HSU put together a 7-0 run to grab a nine point lead, and they never looked back. MACU scored consecutive points three times in the late stages of the set, but never more than three in a row, and HSU took the set 25-16 and the match 3-0.

Skylar Brower and Da'Jah Thompson each had six kills to pace the MACU offense, Alexas Bass added 15 assists, and Gabrielle Poling led the way with seven digs.

MACU will be back at home on Tuesday night to take on the Eagles of Southwestern Christian University (6-4, 2-4 SAC) at 7 p.m.