OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian volleyball team will look to avenge its season-opening loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan last weekend as the Evangels will face the Eagles in a rematch in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on Monday.
LAST TIME OUT
In the squad's season-opening tri-match on Sept. 5, MACU split its first two home games, falling 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-12, 25-19) to Oklahoma Wesleyan in the first match of the day before bouncing back in the night cap with a three-set sweep (25-10, 26-24, 25-9) over Sooner Athletic Conference rival Science & Arts in the nightcap.
Against the Eagles, the Evangels struggled in the attack, recording just a .022 attack percentage while OKWU hit for a .210 percentage. Hanna Foecker led the Evangels in the attack with eight kills while newcomers Desiree Brewer and Tiana Nihipali each notched seven kills.
Mid-America Christian completely flipped the script in their matchup with the Drovers. As a team, MACU swatted for a .346 attack percentage, its highest percentage since recording a .391 against Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) on Aug. 18, 2018.
Once again, it was the former NCCAA All-American leading the MACU attack as Foecker recorded 15 kills on a career-best .700 attack percentage. Sophomore right side hitter Maddie Callicoat provided a major spark off the Evangels bench with eight kills at a .333 clip. Nihipali had a career day from the service line, notching six aces in just her second match in an Evangels uniform.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
After picking up a 3-0 sweep at Cottey College on Saturday, the Eagles hold a 4-0 record after sweeping Mid-America Christian and Science & Arts in a tri-match on Sept. 5 and picking up a 3-1 victory at home against Randall on Sept. 8.
The balanced Oklahoma Wesleyan attack is led by senior outside hitter Laine Alves, who heading into Saturday had a team-high 41 kills at 3.4 kills per set. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native has recorded double-digit kills in each of the first three matches, including a 17-kill effort against the Drovers. Sophomore Taylor Voight has also pitched in 32 kills for the Eagles, including a 16-kill effort against the Saints on Tuesday.
Primarily going with a two-setter offense, another Brazilian native in Nicole Bott leads the passing efforts with a team-high 71 assists, averaging 5.9 assists per set.
Defensively, sophomore middle blocker Autumn Tantom-Neighbors is the squad's best blocker with a total of seven on the season while senior libero Bobana Marusic controls the back line with a team-high 54 digs at 4.5 digs per set.
HISTORY WITH THE EAGLES
Since the start of the NAIA era in 2007, Mid-America Christian holds a slight 6-5 edge in the series. Oklahoma Wesleyan has won four of the previous five meetings, but the two teams have faced each other only twice in the last five years. The Evangels won a five-set thriller back on Sept. 1, 2018 before the Eagles defeated the Evangels in four sets back on Sept. 5.
700 CLUB
Senior outside hitter Hanna Foecker joined some elite company in the Evangels' win over Science & Arts on Saturday. After recording her 15 kills on a .700 attack percentage, Foecker became just the 12th player since the start of the NAIA era (2007-present) to record a .700 attack percentage or better on at least 10 attack attempts in a single match. To top it off, she's only the fourth player to record at least 15 kills on that high of a percentage, with the only other players reaching that plateau being Danielle Betts (16, 1.000) at Friends (Kan.) on Oct. 19, 2010, Priscila West (15, .750) on Nov. 16, 2012 against Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) and Christiane Smith accomplishing the feat twice (19, .731) on Sept. 1, 2009 against Friends as well as (23, .700) just prior to that on Aug. 27, 2009 against Oklahoma Wesleyan.
PORTER PRESENCE
After missing last season due to injury, redshirt freshman middle blocker Allison Porter is bringing an increased presence in the middle of the MACU net. Following MACU's opening weekend tri-match, Porter not only ranks second on the team in kills with 12, but also leads the squad with six blocks, averaging 0.86 blocks per set. The six-foot Lawton, Oklahoma native was consistent in her two showings, recording six kills and three blocks each against Oklahoma Wesleyan and Science & Arts on Sept. 5.
MACU SEASON STAT LEADERS
