VB JBU Postgame - 10/26/24
Josh Gateley
3
Winner John Brown JBU 12-14, 11-7 SAC
2
Mid-America Christian MACU 15-9, 11-6 SAC
Winner
John Brown JBU
12-14, 11-7 SAC
3
Final
2
Mid-America Christian MACU
15-9, 11-6 SAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
John Brown JBU 20 27 15 25 15 (3)
Mid-America Christian MACU 25 25 25 20 12 (2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Reese Cusiter - MACU Sports Information

Volleyball Falls in Five-Set Nail-biter to John Brown

OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Volleyball team was the stronger side for most of the contest, but John Brown caught fire in the fourth set as the Golden Eagles rally handed the Evangels a disappointing five-set loss inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Saturday afternoon.  
 
SCORE 
  • John Brown 3, Mid-America Christian 2 (20-25, 27-25, 15-25, 25-20, 15-12)  
    • Mid-America Christian (15-10, 11-7 SAC) 
    • John Brown (12-14, 11-8 SAC) 
TOP PERFOMERS  MATCH SUMMARY 
  • Set One  
    • The two squads traded runs through the first half of the set as it featured seven ties and three lead changes through the first 22 rallies before the Evangels were able to build some momentum behind three-straight points on a Lena Stockhammer and Sarah Jones-Stafford assisted block, a Stockhammer kill and a Casady McKinney service ace gave MACU the 14-11 lead, forcing a JBU timeout.  
    • McKinney was able to pick up right where she left off with back-to-back aces after the break for a total of three consecutive aces before an Emma-Kate Schaefer attack error ended MACU's six-unanswered run at 17-11.
    • JBU was able to stop the run on a block by Ella Yarborough that allowed the Golden Eagles to spark a 4-0 surge of their own to bring it to 17-15. 
    • The Evangels responded with a crucial five-unanswered surge that included two kills from Stafford to provide some insurance to make it 22-15. 
    • JBU refused to go down easily though as a 5-1 run made it close yet again at 23-20, but MACU was able to come up with a 25-20 set victory on an attack error by Lilly Ruston.  
  • Set Two 
    • The second set had an eerily similar feel to the first through the opening 21 rallies as the two teams battled through seven ties and five lead changes before John Brown strung together four-unanswered as a Stafford attack error allowed the Golden Eagles to take a 14-11 advantage.
    • Mid-America Christian scored four of the next five to tie it up at 15-all following a McKinney setter dump kill and a Ryley Bowden ace, but the Golden Eagles countered with a 5-1 run to create some separation on two service aces by Tessa Burton to make it 20-16.  
    • Following four-straight side-out points to make it 22-18 JBU, the Evangels caught fire at the right time, outscoring JBU 6-1 as a fantastic dig by Alica Obusekova set up a termination by Stafford tying it up at 23 a piece forcing a JBU timeout. However, Obusekova connected for a kill after the break to bring it to set point to put the Golden Eagles to the brink of losing the set.
    • Unfortunately, JBU was able to step up when it needed to the most as an Erin Mullins side-out kill forced extra points as the Golden Eagles scored four of the final five points to steal a 27-25 victory.
  • Set Three 
    • Once again, the set opened with both teams stringing together some small runs to exchange the lead three times. After the Golden Eagles scored the first three, the Evangels swung back by scoring six of the next seven to take their first lead 6-4. However, JBU fired back on five of the next seven to recapture the 9-8 edge.
    • On the ensuing rally, Lauryn Walters put down a kill that fired up a massive MACU run as the Evangels scored 10 of the next 12 points to take a commanding 18-11 lead on McKinney's second setter kill of the match.
    • John Brown initially tried to battle back by scoring three of the next four, but the Evangels closed out strong with a 6-1 run featuring three Obusekova terminations before Walters finished the set off with a kill to wrap-up the 25-15 final.
  • Set Four  
    • The Evangels jumped off to a 7-2 lead early in set one with two more services aces from Sydney Martin to bring her match total to five.  
    • JBU did pick up the pace to bring it within three at 8-5, but the Evangels scored four of the next five featuring a pair of JBU attack errors and a kill apiece from Obusekova and Walters to make it 12-6.  
    • After trading the next two, John Brown strung together an enormous run, scoring on eight-unanswered rallies to take back the 15-13 lead.
    • Mid-America Christian brought it back to even at 17-all after scoring four of the next six as Miriam Nardi and Stafford notched back-to-back terminations, but Savanna Riney answered for JBU as she struck two kills to bring her kill total to a match leading 16 and providing a 21-18 lead. 
    • Riney committed a service error on the ensuing rally, but that would be the closest MACU would be able to come into cutting into the JBU lead as the Golden Eagles scored four of the final five to close out the 25-20 win to force the decisive fifth set.
  • Set Five  
    • With both teams sitting level through the first 10 rallies, MACU was able to connect on back-to-back terminations from Natalia Rodriguez and Stockhammer to take a 7-5 lead before the side change, but JBU scored four-straight points to take the lead back.  
    • A much-needed side-out kill was executed by Walters as it set up two huge service aces from Rodriguez as MACU regained the advantage at 10-9 to force a Golden Eagles timeout.
    • An Ella Yarborough attack error allowed MACU to stretch its lead to two after timeout. However, a Mullins side-out kill completely flipped the script as the two MACU attack errors that followed allowed the Golden Eagles to capture the 12-11 edge.
    • Walters once again came through in the clutch for Mid-America Christian as her seventh kill of the night tied it up at 12, however the Golden Eagles would pounce on the next three scores to take the set and the match by a score of 15-12. 
MATCH NOTES  
  • Both teams were relatively even in the attack as Mid-America Christian held a slight 56-55 edge in kills, but were also slightly more efficient in the attack as well, out-hitting John Brown with a .173 attack percentage to only a .143 clip for the Golden Eagles.
  • Despite the heartbreaking loss from the Evangels, MACU had plenty of strong performances as multiple Evangels set career-highs in this contest.
  • Junior outside hitter Alica Obusekova led the MACU attack by connecting on 18 kills which surpassed her previous career-high of 14 while also hitting for a highly-effective .298 attack percentage.
  • Defensive specialists Ryley Bowden and Sydney Martin set personal records as well as Bowden's 32 digs beat her previous record of 24 by a wide margin. Martin had a great day on the service line as her five service aces also eclipsed her previous career-high. 
  • As a team, Mid-America Christian's serving and back row defense were superb as the Evangels finished with a season-high 14 aces while the back row shoveled 94 digs
  • Casady McKinney just missed a double-double with a match leading 24 assists and nine digs while her four service aces matched her season-high.
  • The extra set marked just the second time the Evangels went to five sets with both occasions occurring inside the Gaulke Activity Center, but MACU one again fell in the five-set stanza to drop to 0-2 on the year in five-set affairs.
  • The defeat was a tough one to swallow for the Evangels as with Wayland Baptist's loss at No. 22 Nelson earlier in the day, MACU had a golden opportunity climb into the top four spots in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings. However, by suffering the loss, the Golden Eagles swept the season series against MACU and with the two teams having an even 11-7 league record, John Brown owns the potential tiebreaker over MACU.
UP NEXT 
  • Mid-America Christian will have the opportunity to bounce back in its Senior Night match on Tuesday as the Evangels host Southwestern Christian for a 7 p.m. first serve inside the Gaulke Activity Center. The Evangels will honor their six graduating seniors prior to the start of the contest.
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