OKLAHOMA CITY – The Sooner Athletic Conference unveiled its 2024 women's volleyball preseason poll that is voted upon by the league's 12 head coaches on Tuesday morning as Mid-America Christian was picked to finish fourth.
Overall, the Evangels received 93 points in the poll, finishing just two back of John Brown (95) for third while scoring four points ahead of Oklahoma City (89) in fifth. The 2023 SAC Champion Nelson (Texas), formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God was selected as the preseason favorite with 166 points and six first-place votes while SAC Tournament Champion Texas Wesleyan came in second with 104 points and three first-place tallies.
MACU is coming off one of its best seasons since joining the conference in 2007 as the Evangels placed third in the SAC standings with a 15-5 league mark during the 2023 campaign while going 25-13 overall, finishing as the national finalist in the NCCAA National Championships.
The 25-win season marked the second-most victories in a single season for the program during the NAIA Era (2007-present) while the 15 conference wins is tied for the single most in a season. The third-place finish in the SAC standings is also the team's highest finish since joining the league.
Overall, the Evangels return a very experienced and talented lineup, headlined by All-SAC First Team honoree senior outside hitter and setter Lena Stockhammer. Of MACU's frontline attack, the Evangels return five of their top six attackers with Stockhammer notching the second-most kills (413) with senior right side Miriam Nardi (226), senior middle blocker Annabeth Fehrle (221), graduate student middle blocker Sarah Jones-Stafford (192) and junior right side Lauryn Walters (111) joining in the attack.
Junior setter Casady McKinney will provide some quality experience from the setting position and the service line while junior defensive specialists Ryley Bowden and Sydney Martin also bring back some excellent back row experience to the Evangels.
While MACU returns a strong roster from last year, the Evangels made some strong additions to the team with eight freshmen and transfers joining the program.
"This year, we have the biggest team we've had since I came to MACU," remarked fifth-year head coach Holly McKamie. "We have a strong recruiting class as well as experienced, time-tested returners who know our system and are teaching the newcomers fast. We are looking strong in the preseason."
Junior defensive specialist Kaetlen Schier will bring some strong experience to the Evangels back row after transferring from crosstown foe NCCAA Division II Randall. Last season, Schier led the Saints back row defense with 530 digs, averaging 4.61 per set and a solid .940 receive percentage.
Junior outside and right side hitter Alica Obusekova was a solid hitter for Vernon College over the last two seasons, notching 383 kills at a 2.17 per set average while notching a solid 92 blocks at a 0.52 per set rate.
Despite missing the upcoming season due to injury, junior outside hitter Abby Conaway will provide a strong presence on the outside starting in 2025 after transferring from NCAA Division II Southern Nazarene. Conaway appeared in 14 matches over the last two seasons for the Crimson Storm, tallying 21 kills on a .172 attack percentage while also notching 14 blocks for a 0.60 per set average.
The Evangels will officially open their 2024 campaign with a tri-match on Tuesday, Aug. 27 as the Evangels will take on Mission at 4 p.m. before battling host Oklahoma Wesleyan at 6 p.m. in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
