OKLAHOMA CITY – In each of the first two sets of their match on Friday night, the Mid-America Christian University volleyball team got off to a quick start. The Evangels opened up large leads early in both frames, and it appeared they would be able to put the visiting Texas Wesleyan University Rams on the ropes in both cases.
In both sets, though, the MACU was unable to hang on.
MACU (8-8, 4-5 SAC) fought hard to try and sustain their early surges, but timely hitting from Texas Wesleyan (11-6, 7-2 SAC) and a stalwart Rams' blocking game turned the tide as the Evangels fell in straight sets 25-23, 25-23, 25-19.
MACU scored the first four points of the night, and they eventually opened a 14-9 lead that forced the Rams into taking a timeout midway through the first set. The break did not immediately help the Rams, though, as MACU stretched their lead out to 17-10 before TXWU began to rally. The Rams rattled off six straight points to cut the deficit to 17-16, and the Rams eventually took the lead at 19-18. The Evangels tied the score at 19, but Texas Wesleyan eventually took a 23-21 lead. Twice in the final four points of the frame, the Evangels closed to within one, but Texas Wesleyan was able to avoid being tied, and the Rams took the first set 25-23.
The Evangels again roared out of the gate in the second stanza, this time taking a 6-0 lead and stretching it to 14-8 before the Rams responded. This time, it was a 6-0 TXWU run that immediately tied the score, and the Rams continued the surge to build a 20-17 lead. MACU was able to bounce back and tie the set at 22 this time, but again the Rams took three of the final four points to claim the set by an identical 25-23 score to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The set win seemed to spur on the Rams and deflate the Evangels, as Texas Wesleyan started quickly in the third frame. The Rams built an early 11-6 lead and that advantage swelled to 17-11 before MACU summoned one final charge. The Evangels scored four straight points to trim the deficit to two, and the margin remained a deuce four points later, but that's when the Rams surged to take command. Five straight Texas Wesleyan points pushed their lead to 24-17, and after MACU scored twice to fend off match point, the Rams converted on their third opportunity to close the match out, as they took the set 25-19 and the match 3-0.
Da'Jah Thompson led the MACU offense with eight kills, Alexa Bass pounded home six, and Skylar Brower and Elena Hadzhieva each notched five scoring strikes. Bass led the way with 17 assists, and Maegan Plunk posted a team-leading 13 digs. The biggest statistical difference in the match came on the block, where the Evangels managed only a single block, while Texas Wesleyan recorded a dozen.
MACU will be back on their home floor on Saturday afternoon, when they welcome the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lady Lions (17-1, 9-0 SAC) to the Gaulke Activity Center. First serve is slated for 1 p.m.
