OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian University volleyball team wrapped up a tough home weekend on Saturday afternoon by welcoming the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lady Lions to the Gaulke Activity Center. The Evangels knew the task would be tough with the only unbeaten team in Sooner Athletic Conference play occupying the other bench, and despite a solid effort, the Evangels came up on the short end of the decision.
MACU (8-9, 4-6 SAC) blocked the ball better on Saturday than they did on Friday night, but the Evangels struggled to find a rhythm offensively until the third set, and SAGU (18-1, 10-0 SAC) held off a late charge from MACU in the third stanza to complete the sweep 25-18, 25-17, 25-20.
After MACU took the first two points of the afternoon, the Lady Lions rattled off six straight scoring swings – four on kills and two on service aces – to take a 6-2 lead. The Evangels bounced back with kills from Da'Jah Thompson and Elena Hadzhieva, and two aces from Kaylie Walker to tie the score at 7-7, but SAGU quickly reclaimed the advantage. MACU held close for the rest of the set, but they were unable to get the score tied again, and SAGU stretched the margin out late to take the frame 25-18.
The teams split the first six points of the second stanza, but a 7-2 SAGU run established the Lady Lions for the rest of the set. With an 11-8 lead, SAGU ran off six points in a row to take control of the set completely, and the Lady Lions took the set 25-17 to take a 2-0 lead.
The third set was a back-and-forth affair for most of it, with 15 ties and six lead changes. With the score tied at 18 late, the Lady Lions asserted themselves with a 5-0 run to claim a 23-18 lead, and SAGU claimed the set 25-20 to complete the sweep.
Alexa Bass and Annika Barnett each had six kills in the match to lead the MACU offense, and Bass posted another double-double with 12 assists and 10 digs – both of which led the Evangels.
MACU will step outside of SAC play on Wednesday evening, heading south to take on the Austin College Roos (10-8). The match will take place in Sherman, Texas and it is slated to begin at 6 p.m.
