Mid-America Christian University

OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Volleyball team were unable to slow down a red-hot Wayland Baptist offense as the Evangels fell in straight-sets on Friday night's Senior Night inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 0, Wayland Baptist 3 (24-26, 17-25, 16-25)
  • Mid-America Christian: (10-10, 6-8 SAC)
  • Wayland Baptist (Texas): (14-8, 10-4 SAC)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Mia Benson: 11 Kills, .176 ATK%, 2 Digs
• Marcela Nalin: 6 Kills, .190 ATK%, 3 Digs
• Seyi Atolagbe: 6 Kills, .385 ATK%
• Jasmine Liongco: 17 Assists, 5 Digs
• Gracelyn Skaggs: 14 Digs, 2 Assists, Ace

MATCH SUMMARY

• Set One
  • MACU jumped out of the gates with a quick 7-3 advantage as senior Marcela Nalin got the offense going. Mia Benson added a pair of kills, while Gracelyn Skaggs continued the offense with a service ace.
  • WBU stormed back in front with seven consecutive points for a 10-7 lead. The Pioneers held onto their three-point lead into the media timeout where the Evangels stole the momentum. Benson continued her good form with three consecutive kills to knot it up at 16-16.
  • Both teams exchanged points up to set point as the Evangels saved the first at 23-24 after a WBU service error. However, a kill from the Pioneers followed by an Evangel attack error closed out the opening set extras in 26-24 fashion.
• Set Two
  • The Evangels opened a competitive set two as Seyi Atolagbe joined the offense with consecutive kills. Katie Stafford pulled MACU within one at 5-6, before Wayland Baptist piled on three in a row to go up four.
  • Out of the MACU timeout, the Evangels won five of the next six points to get back within a rally. However, the Pioneers responded with four consecutive of their own to take a 15-9 lead into the media timeout.
  • Once again the Evangels fought back into the set with four straight out of the halfway timeout, but WBU immediately responded with a dominant close to the set including five in a row to close the second set with a 25-17 win.
• Set Three
  • Much like the first two sets, the Evangels opened the set showing fight and led 5-4 thanks to Mia Benson again with three kills in the opening five points. However, WBU continued its streaky scoring with five consecutive to lead 9-5.
  • Marcela Nalin pulled MACU within one at 10-11 after a thunderous slam. The Evangels kept pace up to 14-16 after three in a row with two more from Nalin.
  • Wayland Baptist finished off its second seven-straight point runs of the contest to bring the Pioneers to match point at 24-14. Although the Evangels won the next two rallies, the damage was already done and WBU closed out the next point for a 25-16 set three win.

MATCH NOTES

• MACU struggled on the offensive end for the second consecutive contest with 30 kills, but 21 attack errors for a .070 ATK%. WBU hit .222 ATK% with 36 kills and just 12 errors.
• Mia Benson led the Evangel attack for the third consecutive game with 11 kills. Marcela Nalin and Seyi Atolagbe contributed six kills a piece as Seyi continued her efficient hitting season with a .385 ATK%.
• Jasmine Liongco led the way with 17 assists, while Kristen Straughn reached double-digits with 10.
• On the defensive end, Gracelyn Skaggs had 14 digs but continued blocking struggles with just one total block assisted by Katie Stafford and Madi Trayler.
• MACU was unable to take advantage of the opportunity to move up in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings and fell to 6-8 in conference play holding onto the eighth and final playoff spot. The Evangels sit just one game ahead of their next opponent Oklahoma Panhandle State after Friday's slate of games.
• After the straight-set defeat to Wayland Baptist, Mid-America Christian falls to 14-33 all-time against the Pioneers.
• The MACU Volleyball program was able to celebrate five seniors on senior night before the contest. Abby Conaway, Kaetlen Schier, Ava Johnson, Elena Kagiali, and Marcela Nalin were all honored for their Evangel careers.

 
UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian stays at home for Saturday afternoon's SAC contest against Oklahoma Panhandle State for a 1 P.M. first serve inside the Gaulke Activity Center.