OKLAHOMA CITY – After splitting its first two Sooner Athletic Conference road matches, the Mid-America Christian volleyball team will be seeking a pair of big SAC home wins this week as the Evangels host Southwestern Christian and Oklahoma City inside the Gaulke Activity Center. MACU will face the Eagles at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night before taking on the Stars at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
 
MACU SEASON REPORT

• Record: 7-4 (1-1 SAC)
• Last Match: Lost at Oklahoma Panhandle State – 3-1 (25-22, 16-25, 26-24, 27-25) – Sept. 3, 2022 – Goodwell, Okla.
• Stat Leaders:
  • Kills: Lena Stockhammer (113), Lauryn Walters (99), Miriam Nardi (98)
  • ATK% (Min. 110 ATK): Miriam Nardi (98-24-206, .359), Vanessa Moriera (65-17-159, .302), Lauryn Walters (99-49-291, .172)
  • Assists: Casady McKinney (215), Lena Stockhammer (208)
  • Aces: Faith Foutch (25), Casady McKinney (21), Sydney Martin (12)
  • Digs: Marlee Hunter (188), Sydney Martin (94), Faith Foutch (81)
  • Blocks: Miriam Nardi (31), Vanessa Moreira (26), Lena Stockhammer (18)
• Team Notes:
  • Mid-America Christian picked up a big time five-set victory at Wayland Baptist on Sept. 2, putting together a dominant fifth-set by outscoring the Pioneers 15-5 in the final frame.
  • However, the Evangels had a challenging time closing out a win in a tough road match at Oklahoma Panhandle State as the Evangels three set loses all came by three points or less with two sets going to extra points.
  • Despite the Evangels falling to 7-4 on the season, MACU's four losses have come to opponents with a combined 45-8 (.833) overall record through the first three weeks of the season.
  • MACU has seen some strong improvements in the last week out of freshman setter Casady McKinney, who has moved into the team-lead for assists (215), averaging 5.0 assists per set and has moved into second on the squad in service aces with 21, putting down 0.49 aces per set.

SCOUTING REPORT
Southwestern Christian (Okla.)

• Record: 5-4 (0-2 SAC)
• Last Match: Lost vs. Philander Smith (Ark.) – 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-14) – Sept. 3, 2022 – Bethany, Okla.
• Series vs. MACU (2003-): MACU leads 20-10
• Last Match vs. MACU: MACU won 3-1 (25-19, 26-28, 25-15, 25-20) – Oct. 26, 2021 – Bethany, Okla.
• Players to Watch:
  • Mina Iboni – FR – OH/DS
    • 101 Kills (3.16 K/S), .212 ATK%
  • Faith Desouza – JR – S
    • 194 Assists (6.47 AST/S), 77 Digs (2.57 D/S)
  • Treasure Mozon – SO – OH/DS
    • 158 Digs (4.94 D/S), 10 SA (0.31 SA/S)
  • Tessa Ortiz – JR – MB/OH
    • 16 Blocks (0.50 B/S), 52 Kills (1.63 K/S), .235 ATK%, 10 SA (0.31 SA/S)
• Team Notes:
  • Southwestern Christian is coming off splitting a tri-match on Saturday, sweeping Texas College in straight sets (25-7, 25-16, 25-9) before being swept by Philander Smith.
  • The Eagles are off to an 0-2 start to Sooner Athletic Conference play, but gave a strong challenge to Oklahoma City, falling in five sets to the Stars on Aug. 30 before falling to John Brown at home in straight sets on Sept. 1.
  • SCU is led in the attack by freshman outside hitter Mina Iboni, who is the lone Eagle with more than 100 kills with a 101 on a 3.16 per set average and is tallying kills on 21.2 percent of her attacks.
  • The Eagles return some strong experience from last season with junior setter Faith Desouza leading the passing attack and sophomore defensive specialist Treasure Mozon leading SCU in the backline defense.
  • While the Evangels hold a 20-10 edge in the series since 2003, Mid-America Christian has been especially dominant since the 2019 season. MACU has taken seven straight matches and have a 21-5 edge in sets won during that time frame.

Oklahoma City

• Record: 4-5 (2-0 SAC)
• Last Match: Lost vs. William Woods (Mo.) – 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-17, 25-18) – Sept. 3, 2022 – Bellevue, Neb.
• Series vs. MACU (2003-): OCU leads 32-2
• Last Match vs. MACU: OCU won 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-13) – Oct. 28, 2022 – Oklahoma City (OCU)
• Players to Watch:
  • Ruby Kelley – SO – MB
    • 97 Kills (2.77 K/S), .196 ATK%, 11 SA (0.31 SA/S), 110 Digs (3.14 D/S), 21 Blocks (0.60 B/S)
  • Cassidy DeShong – SO – S
    • 169 Assists (4.83 A/S), 46 Digs (1.31 D/S)
  • Kaitlyn Dunlap – SO – DS/L
    • 166 Digs (4.74 D/S), 10 SA (0.29 SA/S)
  • Rylee Steward – JR – MB
    • 35 Blocks (1.00 B/S), 61 Kills (1.74 K/S), .228 ATK%
• Team Notes:
  • Oklahoma City comes into the week with a 4-5 record after a tough showing at the Bellevue Labor Day Classic. The Stars went 0-4 in Bellevue, Neb, dropping matches against Cornerstone (Mich.) 3-1, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 3-1, Doane (Neb.) 3-0 and William Woods (Mo.) 3-1.
  • However, the Stars were able to go 2-0 to start Sooner Athletic Conference play last week. After grinding out a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Southwestern Christian on Aug. 30, the Stars were able to sweep John Brown (Ark.) 3-0 on Aug. 31.
  • OCU has been getting strong play so far from sophomore middle blocker Ruby Kelley, who leads the team in kills (97) while also performing as one of the team's top defenders at the net and the back row with 110 digs and 21 blocks.
  • Junior middle blocker Rylee Steward has also provided a strong defensive presence at the net for the Stars as her 1.00 block per set average is the third-highest clip in the SAC.
  • Last season, MACU and OCU split the season series as the Evangels came away with a 3-1 win inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Sept. 21 before being swept at OCU on Oct. 28.