OKLAHOMA CITY – Facing a red-hot Oklahoma Panhandle State team that had won five-straight, the MACU volleyball team neutralized the Aggies attack as the Evangels came away with a three-set sweep on Saturday afternoon inside the Gaulke Activity Center
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 3, Oklahoma Panhandle State 0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-14)
  • Mid-America Christian (17-10, 13-5 SAC)
  • Oklahoma Panhandle State (8-14, 7-11 SAC)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Sawyer Franz – 16 Kills, .500 ATK%
• Lena Stockhammer – 13 Kills, .296 ATK%, 2 Digs, 2 Assists
• Casady McKinney – 19 Assists, 2 Digs
• Ludmilla Souza – 16 Assists, 12 Digs, 3 Aces

MATCH SUMMARY

• Set One
  • After trading the first six rallies, Oklahoma Panhandle State captured the early momentum by scoring on six of the next eight rallies as back-to-back Ava Newby kills gave the Aggies the 9-5 advantage.
  • Lena Stockhammer sliced the right-side block for a side-out kill to jumpstart a 6-1 MACU run capped off on a Ludmilla Souza service ace to put the Evangels in-front, 11-10.
  • It was a back-and-forth battle through the midway portion as neither team could capture more than a two-point lead, but a late 6-1 surge by Mid-America Christian behind a pair of kills each for Stockhammer and Miriam Nardi and a Souza service ace allowed the Evangels to grab the 23-19 advantage following Emma Zuege's hit into the net.
  • OPSU made it interesting late, rattling off three consecutive scores to close it to one, but a Zuege service error brought it to set point before Sawyer Franz powered a cross-court shot off the arms of the libero to wrap-up the 25-22 win.
• Set Two
  • Mid-America Christian secured the early momentum, utilizing a 6-1 streak as four Evangels terminations, two from Annabeth Fehrle and one apiece from Franz and Stockhammer made it an 8-3 MACU edge.
  • The Aggies put together a major charge heading to the midway point, scoring eight of the next nine points to capture the 11-9 edge following Lauryn Walters attack error.
  • Sarah Jones and Lena Stockhammer each came up with solo blocks on the next two rallies to reinvigorate the Evangels as MACU took the next five as a Stockhammer termination and another Souza ace down the right sideline set the score to 14-11.
  • Even though the Aggies fought back to make it a one-point game, the Evangels turned on the jets over the final half as a Stockhammer smash jumpstarted an 11-2 run to close out the set as Ryley Bowden came up with the set-point service ace to seal the 25-16 win.
• Set Three
  • Panhandle State managed to grab a 7-5 lead off a four-unanswered streak, but another Franz side-out slam ignited a string of five-straight MACU points as two Stockhammer terminations and a Kaylee Harrison kill brought it to 10-7.
  • The Aggies closed it back to a one-point game on three separate rallies, the last coming on an Alanah Best and Joelle LaForce assisted block on Stockhammer's attack try to make it a 13-12 contest.
  • Stockhammer redeemed herself on the ensuing rally from the right side, sliding a shot down the right line to fire up an unstoppable 12-2 run as Franz finished off the match with a powerful strike down the right sideline to wrap-up the 25-14 final.

MATCH NOTES

• Mid-America Christian was highly efficient in its attack, smashing 45 kills on a .278 team hitting percentage while holding Oklahoma Panhandle State to just 20 kills on an .083 attack rate.
• After struggling in-service against the Pioneers on Friday night, the Evangels were able to right the ship from the line against the Aggies, tallying nine aces while limiting OPSU to just two aces. Sydney Martin (4) and Ludmilla Souza (3) combined to tally seven of MACU's nine points in-service.
• In the attack, freshman outside Sawyer Franz put together perhaps her best match as an Evangel, recording a three-set career-high 16 kills on a career-best .500 attack percentage.
• Lena Stockhammer was the only other player for either team to eclipse double-digit kills, tallying 13 terminations on a very efficient .296 hitting clip.
• Miriam Nardi just barely missed out breaking into double-digit kills, putting down nine kills for a .316 attack rate.
• Casady McKinney led MACU's distribution efforts with 19 assists while Souza turned in a double-double with 16 assists and led the back-row defensive efforts with a match-high 12 digs.
• With the victory, the Evangels completed the regular season sweep over the Aggies, extending the team's win streak to four in the series.
• The win and a John Brown sweep at Central Christian kept the two teams in lock-step for the No. 3 spot in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings at 13-5 heading into the final week of league play.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will host a massive match in its final regular season matchup inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Thursday, Nov. 2 as MACU will host crosstown rival Oklahoma City for a 7 p.m. first serve.