McPHERSON, Kan. – The MACU Volleyball team defensively dominated Central Christian inside the Holman Fieldhouse on the campus of McPherson College on Saturday afternoon, holding the Tigers to a negative hitting percentage to cruise to a three-set sweep to take the season series.
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 3, Central Christian 0 (25-14, 25-5, 25-17)
  • Mid-America Christian (13-10, 9-7 SAC)
  • Central Christian (3-18, 1-14 SAC)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Seyi Atolagbe – 12 Kills, .733 ATK%
• Mia Benson – 8 Kills, .500 ATK%, 3 Blocks, 3 Digs
• Casady McKinney – 21 Assists, 9 Digs
• Sydney Martin – 18 Digs

MATCH SUMMARY

• Set One
  • Mid-America Christian scored the first three points to set the tone before utilizing an 8-2 run midway through the set to take a commanding 14-6 lead on back-to-back kills from the two middles in Mia Benson and Seyi Atolagbe.
  • Central Christian took advantage of a pair of MACU miscues to knock it down to a six-point advantage before the Evangels gradually stretched their advantage out to 11 over the next 13 rallies as Chloe Goratowski attack error following a Marcela Nalin termination made it a 23-12 game.
  • Three-straight side-outs set up Atolagbe for a powerful set point swing down the right side to seal the 25-14 win in-favor of the Evangels.
• Set Two
  • The two sides were split through the first six rallies before MACU rattled off eight-straight points with Kaetlen Schier scoring an ace and Madi Trayler terminating a kill before a CCCK setting miscue made it 11-3.
  • After a MACU attack error on the ensuing rally ended the run, the Evangels put together an even greater streak on the other side by rattling off 12 consecutive points as three-straight Tigers attack errors stretched the cushion out to 23-4.
  • Following an Alysa Johnson kill to snap it, MACU scored the final two as Mia Benson stuffed Sydnie Jones' swing to wrap-up the incredible 25-5 victory.
• Set Three
  • Both teams were dead even through the first 14 scores before Mid-America Christian once again posted a 7-2 streak to capture the 14-9 advantage at the midway point on a co-op block by Atolagbe and Nalin.
  • Following seven-straight side-out scores, the Evangels went on to stretch their advantage out behind a 7-2 surge as an Ava Johnson kill and a CCCK attack error brought it to match point at 24-15.
  • The Tigers survived a pair of match points before Nalin redeemed herself on a net violation by powering down the match-point kill to seal the 25-17 victory.

MATCH NOTES

• Even though Mid-America Christian was limited with its top-hitter in Alica Obusekova playing only one set due to injury, the Evangels were still able to dominate in the attack, recording 41 kills and 13 errors for a .264 hitting percentage while holding Central Christian to 20 kills and 21 miscues for a -.009 attack clip.
• The MACU back row was downright dominant, shoveling 64 of CCCK's 111 attack attempts while also not giving up a single service ace.
• Seyi Atolagbe posted one of her best matches as an Evangel, powering down a three-set career-high 12 kills on a career-best .733 hitting percentage.
• Mia Benson also provided a spark from the middle, notching eight kills on a .500 attack rate while three blocks and three digs on the defensive end.
• Madi Trayler and Marcela Nalin also turned in seven kills apiece while Trayler tallied a .333 hitting percentage with Nalin notching a .200 clip.
• Casady McKinney led the 6-2 setter rotation with 21 assists, averaging seven per set while just barely missing out on a double-double with nine digs. Madison Lee wrapped up with 14 assists to go with four shovels and an ace.
• Sydney Martin led MACU's back row efforts with a three-set career-high 18 digs, averaging six per set while Ryley Bowden was the only other Evangel to notch double-digits with 12 digs.
• By getting the sweep, the Evangels took both games of the season series after MACU cruised to a 25-11, 25-6, 25-12 victory over the Tigers inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Sept. 5.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will return home next week for a pair of pivotal SAC matches as the Evangels host John Brown on Friday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center before battling College of the Ozarks next Saturday.