VB COFO Postgame - 10-29-26
Kyle Highfill

Women's Volleyball Tyler Hoxie - MACU Sports Information

Volleyball Suffered Competitive Five-Set Defeat at College of the Ozarks

Box Score POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – The MACU Volleyball team played a hard-fought five-setter against College of the Ozarks on Thursday evening, but the Evangels were unable to hold onto their late leads and dropped the final two sets in Point Lookout, Mo.
 
SCORE
  • Mid-America Christian 2, College of the Ozarks 3 (19-25, 25-14, 25-22, 29-31, 11-15)
    • Mid-America Christian: (14-11, 9-9 SAC)
    • College of the Ozarks (Mo.): (15-10, 12-7 SAC)
TOP PERFORMERS MATCH SUMMARY
  • Set One
    • College of the Ozarks opened a 5-1 advantage through the first few rallies as the Evangels suffered a few attack errors. However, MACU stormed back in front with five straight points led by Katie Stafford offensively to lead 6-5.
    • The momentum swung back the Bobcats way with five consecutive points going into the media timeout. The Evangels fought back into the set back within two at 18-20 through Marcela Nalin's attack. But COFO had the answer once more by winning five of the last six points for a 25-19 first set win.
  • Set Two
    • Mid-America Christian jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead as Nalin led the way once again. The Bobcats started to commit continuous attack errors that extended the lead to 10-5.
    • COFO fought back to just a one-point deficit at 12-11, but this started the Evangel barrage of nine straight points to blow open the second set. Kaetlen Schier put on a serving clinic with multiple aces, while Seyi Atolagbe and Marcela Nalin worked efficiently on the offensive end for a 21-11 lead.
    • Madison Lee closed it out for the Evangels on set point with a service ace after Katie Stafford and Ava Stewart put up a huge block to set up set point. MACU took the second set in a dominant 25-14 scoreline.
  • Set Three
    • MACU leaped out to an early set lead again as the Evangels led 5-1 as Nalin and Atolagbe both registered multiple kills. The Evangels extended its lead 15-7 to the media timeout as Kristen Straughn added an ace and a kill during the run. Mia Benson joined the attack while Seyi continued her efficient evening with another kill.
    • Mid-America Christian's lead grew up to nine at 19-10 before the Bobcats rallied late in the set. The Evangels lead was trimmed to just three at 20-17. However, Marcela Nalin moved in the clutch to reach set point, then hammered home the final punch one rally later for a 2-1 set lead, and 25-22 set win.
  • Set Four
    • A competitive start to the fourth set saw both teams level up to 12-12, exchanging points back and forth. Marcela Nalin dominated the opening rallies in the fourth set with the help of Straughn from the service line again.
    • College of the Ozarks went on the longest rally thus far with three in a row to reach the media timeout. However, a few attack and service errors from the Bobcats allowed MACU to regain some momentum.
    • The Evangels down 18-20, rattled off seven straight to reach match point. Mia Benson contributed on the offensive end while Katie Stafford put up a few big blocks. But the Bobcats had an answer again to steal the lead at 25-24.
    • Both teams handled the pressure points on match and set points well into extra rallies. Stafford put up another big-time block and Atolagbe punched a kill home down the middle. However, an Evangel service error followed by a service ace from the Bobcats gave them two consecutive points for a hard-fought 31-29 set four result.
  • Set Five
    • After an emotional first four sets, the Evangels were able to rally behind Nalin and Atolagbe's offense again for a quick 8-3 advantage.
    • However, COFO stole all the momentum and won 11 of the next 13 points to reach match point at 14-11. The Evangels fought back through Seyi Atolagbe, but the final point followed and the Bobcats rallied back for a 15-11 fifth and final set win.
MATCH NOTES
  • MACU held a narrow kill advantage by a 55-54 margin. However, the Bobcats hit a more efficient .138 ATK% to the Evangels .128.
  • Marcela Nalin led the way offensively with 16 kills, hitting .256. Seyi Atolagbe also reached double-digits with 14 kills on an efficient .500 ATK%. Mia Benson reached nine kills.
  • Jasmine Liongco dished out 25 assists, while Kristen Straughn helped distribution with 18 assists.  
  • The Evangels served eight aces as Kristen Straughn and Kaetlen Schier both added two apiece.  
  • On the defensive end, Gracelyn Skaggs led MACU with 21 digs. Three more Evangels reached double digits as Jasmine Liongco added 15, while Straughn and Schier contributed 10 each.  
  • With seven of the eight Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament spots locked up, MACU continue to hold onto the final playoff spot with a 9-9 record. The Evangels hold a three-game advantage over Oklahoma Panhandle State for the final spot.
  • MACU suffered its first season sweep against College of the Ozarks in series history. However, the Evangels still hold a 6-5 all-time record against the Bobcats.   
UP NEXT
  • Mid-America Christian stays out East to face John Brown on Saturday afternoon with first serve slated for 1 P.M. in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.  
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Seyi Atolagbe

#5 Seyi Atolagbe

MB
5' 9"
Sophomore
Mia Benson

#2 Mia Benson

MB
5' 10"
Sophomore
Madison Lee

#11 Madison Lee

S
5' 7"
Junior
Marcela Nalin

#17 Marcela Nalin

OH
6' 0"
Senior
Kaetlen Schier

#6 Kaetlen Schier

DS/L
5' 4"
Redshirt Senior
Kristen Straughn

#4 Kristen Straughn

S
5' 6"
Freshman
Jasmine Liongco

#8 Jasmine Liongco

S
5' 3"
Sophomore
Katie Stafford

#10 Katie Stafford

MB
6' 0"
Freshman
Ava Stewart

#20 Ava Stewart

OH/OPP
5' 8"
Freshman
Gracelyn Skaggs

#22 Gracelyn Skaggs

DS/L
5' 6"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Seyi Atolagbe

#5 Seyi Atolagbe

5' 9"
Sophomore
MB
Mia Benson

#2 Mia Benson

5' 10"
Sophomore
MB
Madison Lee

#11 Madison Lee

5' 7"
Junior
S
Marcela Nalin

#17 Marcela Nalin

6' 0"
Senior
OH
Kaetlen Schier

#6 Kaetlen Schier

5' 4"
Redshirt Senior
DS/L
Kristen Straughn

#4 Kristen Straughn

5' 6"
Freshman
S
Jasmine Liongco

#8 Jasmine Liongco

5' 3"
Sophomore
S
Katie Stafford

#10 Katie Stafford

6' 0"
Freshman
MB
Ava Stewart

#20 Ava Stewart

5' 8"
Freshman
OH/OPP
Gracelyn Skaggs

#22 Gracelyn Skaggs

5' 6"
Junior
DS/L