OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU volleyball team will open its 2023 season in some familiar confines as the Evangels will head to Siloam Springs, Arkansas this weekend to compete in the Golden Eagle Invitational hosted by John Brown inside Bill George Arena on Friday and Saturday.

MACU will open its campaign against a rival in Oklahoma Wesleyan with a noon first serve on Friday before facing off against Bethel (Kan.) at 4 p.m. The Evangels will then close out the event with an 11 a.m. match against Texas A&M-Texarkana in the first ever meeting between the two programs on Saturday.

Mid-America Christian brings back a large pool of its talent from last season with 10 of its 13 players returning from last year's roster. Making their returns are the program's 2022 kills leader in senior outside hitter Lena Stockhammer, leading assists and service aces contributor in sophomore setter Casady McKinney, the top digs leader in junior libero Marlee Hunter and the squad's second-leading blocker in senior Sarah Jones.

 
MACU SEASON REPORT

• 2022 Record: 20-16 (12-8 SAC)
• Last Match: Lost vs. Columbia International (S.C.) – 3-2 (25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 17-25, 15-12) – Dec. 2, 2022 (NCCAA Championships – Semifinal)
• Top Returners:
  • Lena Stockhammer – SR – OH/S
    • 428 Kills (3.17 K/S), .175 ATK%, 516 Assists (3.82 A/S), 23 Aces (0.17 SA/S), 273 Digs (2.02 D/S), 61 Blocks (0.45 B/S)
  • Casady McKinney – SO – S
    • 850 Assists (6.30 A/S), 58 Aces (0.43 SA/S), 364 Digs (2.70 D/S)
  • Marlee Hunter – JR – L/DS
    • 729 Digs (5.40 D/S), .951 RCV%, 36 Aces (0.27 SA/S), 133 Assists (0.99 A/S)
• Top Newcomers:
  • Sawyer Franz – FR – OH
    • Competed for the Oklahoma Peak Performance club team
  • Ludmilla Souza – GR – S
    • Recorded 164 Assists and 14 Aces in 16 matches with Florida Memorial last season

SCOUTING REPORT
Oklahoma Wesleyan

• 2022 Record: 34-3 (11-1 KCAC)
• Last Match: Lost vs. Kansas Wesleyan – 3-1 (19-25, 25-21, 12-25, 25-22, 15-12) – Nov. 12, 2022 – Hutchinson, Kan. (KCAC Semifinal)
• Series vs MACU (2003-): MACU leads 14-10
• Last Match vs MACU: OKWU won 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-22) – Sept. 24, 2022 – Bartlesville, Okla.
• Streak vs OKWU: Lost 3
• Top Returners:
  • Makaila Keith – GR – OPP
    • 307 Kills (2.50 K/S), .229 ATK%, 58 Blocks (0.47 B/S)
  • Andjela Micunovic – GR – L/DS
    • 645 Digs (5.04 D/S), .971 RCV%, 141 Assists (1.10 A/S), 28 Aces (22 SA/S)
  • Sydney Collins – SO – S
    • 769 Assists (5.87 A/S), 26 Aces (0.20 SA/S), 323 Digs (2.47 D/S)

Bethel (Kan.)

• 2022 Record: 21-9 (9-3 KCAC)
• Last Match: Lost vs. No. 5 Saint Mary (Kan.) – 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-17) – Nov. 11, 2022 – Hutchinson, Kan. (KCAC Quarterfinal)
• Series vs MACU (2003-): MACU leads 4-1
• Last Match vs MACU: MACU won 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-21) – Aug. 26, 2022 – Hastings, Neb.
• Streak vs BC: Won 4
• Top Returners:
  • Mia Roman – JR – S
    • 635 Assists (5.83 A/S), 248 Digs (2.28 D/S)
  • Katey Wilhelm – GR – DS/L
    • 533 Digs (4.89 D/S), .956 RCV%
  • Jordan Boone – JR – MB
    • 88 Blocks (0.81 B/S), 216 Kills (1.98 K/S), .253 ATK%

Texas A&M-Texarkana

• 2022 Record: 15-13 (9-7 RRAC)
• Last Match: Lost vs. Southwest (N.M.) – 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 27-25, 29-27) – Nov. 11, 2022 – New Orleans, La. (RRAC Quarterfinal)
• Series vs MACU: First Meeting
• Last Match vs MACU: N/A
• Streak vs TAMU-T: N/A
• Top Returners:
  • Zuleica Cruz – SR – S
    • 368 Assists (4.33 A/S), 148 Digs (1.74 D/S)
  • Claudia Etling – SR – DS/L
    • 276 Digs (2.82 D/S), .956 RCV%, 37 Aces (0.38 SA/S)
  • Katherine Toftemark – JR – MB
    • 85 Blocks (1.01 B/S), 155 Kills (1.85 K/S), .309 ATK%