OKLAHOMA CITY – After putting together one of its best seasons in program history last year, the MACU volleyball program will look to take the next step this fall as the Evangels announced their upcoming 2024 schedule on Monday.
The Evangels are coming off a 2023 campaign that saw MACU put together its best ever finish in Sooner Athletic Conference play, placing third in the league standings with a 15-5 conference mark while wrapping up the season as the NCCAA National Finalist with an overall record of 25-13. The 25 wins by MACU went down as the second-most by the program since moving up to the NAIA level in 2007, sitting only behind the 30-9 squad from 2021 while the 15 conference wins matched the most by that same 2021 team.
Mid-America Christian was sensational in postseason play as MACU advanced to its second ever SAC Semifinal after defeating fifth-seeded Wayland Baptist (Texas) 3-1 (16-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-23) in the quarterfinal round inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Nov. 7 before falling to eventual SAC Tournament Champion Texas Wesleyan 3-1 in the SAC Semi on Nov. 10.
The Evangels captured their second ever NCCAA Central Region Championship inside their home confines on Nov. 15 against the Pioneers as this time the Evangels swept WBU in dominant fashion, 25-7, 25-20, 25-20.
At the NCCAA National Championships in Point Lookout, Missouri, MACU advanced to its second title tilt in the last three years after defeating Baptist Bible (Mo.) 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-11), Regent (Va.) 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-23) and Wayland Baptist 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22) before falling to eventual National Champion Grace (Ind.) 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20) on Dec. 2.
The Evangels return a talented lineup from last season's squad, headlined by All-SAC First Team honoree, graduate student outside hitter and setter Lena Stockhammer and All-SAC Second Team junior setter Casady McKinney as well as some talented pieces in graduate student middle blocker Sarah Jones, senior middle blocker and outside hitter Annabeth Fehrle, junior defense specialists Sydney Martin and Ryley Bowden as well as senior right side hitter Miriam Nardi and junior right side Lauryn Walters along with sophomore right side Kaylee Harrison.
MACU added a pair of strong transfers in junior middle and right side Abby Conaway from Southern Nazarene (Okla.) as well as junior outside and right side Alica Obusekova from Vernon (Texas) as well as a very talented freshman class that includes Madison Lee, Natalia Rodriguez, Ava Johnson, Mariah Page and Addyson Day.
Mid-America Christian will officially open its season with a strong road challenge on Aug. 27 as the Evangels will compete at Oklahoma Wesleyan in a tri-match before matching up against Mission (Mo.) immediately following.
The Evangels will then compete in the College of the Ozarks Classic in Point Lookout, Missouri from Aug. 30-31 as MACU faces off against Stephens (Mo.), Evangel (Mo.), Mission and Avila (Mo.).
MACU officially opens Sooner Athletic Conference Play inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Friday, Sept. 6 as the Evangels take on 2023 SAC regular season champ Nelson (Texas), formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God University at 7 p.m. before tackling Texas Wesleyan on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.
On-top of battling each SAC foe at home and away, the Evangels welcome a new competitor to the conference as MACU will take on league newcomer College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout on Sept. 21 and at home on Oct. 25.
This year's SAC Tournament will take place from Nov. 12-16 with the top four teams hosting quarterfinal matches before playing the semifinals and championship match in Fort Worth, Texas on Nov. 15-16.
