Mid-America Christian University

OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Volleyball team trailed two sets down until the Evangels rallied all the way back in five sets to take down rivals Southwestern Christian in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 3, Southwestern Christian 2 (20-25, 15-25, 25-18, 25-12, 15-6)
  • Mid-America Christian: (17-12, 12-10 SAC)
  • Southwestern Christian (Okla.): (7-18, 4-18 SAC)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Morgan Cross: 16 Kills, .389 ATK%, 2 Digs, Block
• Marcela Nalin: 10 Kills, .179 ATK%, 4 Digs, 2 Blocks
• Seyi Atolagbe: 10 Kills, .409 ATK%, 2 Blocks
• Mia Benson: 10 Kills, 3 Digs, Block
• Kristen Straughn: 41 Ast, 11 Digs, 6 Kills, .625 ATK%, 2 Aces, Block
• Gracelyn Skaggs: 18 Digs, 8 Ast, Ace

MATCH SUMMARY

• Set One
  • Mid-America Chrisitan leaped out to an early first set lead as Gracelyn Skaggs' service ace put the Evangels up 4-1. MACU maintained its lead to 6-3 after Kristen Straughn registered an ace of her own. However, the Eagles soared back to level it 6-6.
  • The Evangels called timeout down 8-10 and responded well to win the next three points and lead 11-10. Runs told the story through the rest of the opening set as MACU responded with three points in a row after SCU rallied four straight through the media timeout and led 16-15.
  • Southwestern Christian continued its streaky offense with five consecutive points to take a strong hold on the first set. Madison Lee put up a late effort with an ace, while Morgan Cross had three kills in the final few rallies. However, SCU took the first set 25-20.
• Set Two
  • Much like the first set, the Evangels jumped out to a 4-1 advantage through the likes of Cross and Seyi Atolagbe offensively. SCU responded again with a five-point rally. Mia Benson stopped the run, but the Eagles scored seven in a row to lead 13-6.
  • The Evangels rallied late in the set with a couple of big defensive blocks and Atolagbe's offensive kills, but Southwestern Christian continued its momentum to take a two-set lead after a 25-15 second set result.
• Set Three
  • SCU dominated the first nine rallies of the third set with an 8-1 advantage to force a MACU timeout. However, the Evangels stormed right back into the fight with nine straight points to jump back in front 16-13. The Eagles attack errors racked up during the MACU run. However, Lee contributed another ace, while Cross continued her career afternoon putting on an offensive show.
  • The Evangels kept the foot on the gas to close the third set in 25-18 fashion. Cross again shut the door on a late SCU comeback, before Mia Benson smashed home the final two points to put MACU on the board.
• Set Four
  • The fourth set opened much more competitive as both teams exchanged offensive rallies. Marcela Nalin started on fire for the Evangels, while Madison Lee continued her serving clinic with another ace as MACU led 10-6.
  • The Evangels went on a few mini runs through the middle of the set, highlighted by Katie Stafford and Atolagbe through the middle. As MACU led 18-12, the Evangels closed out the set with seven straight points with Morgan Cross hammering home three straight kills. Atolagbe gave MACU set point and Madison Lee closed it out with a set-point ace for a 25-12 fourth set win.
• Set Five
  • After the Eagles scored the first two points of the fifth set, the Evangels streaky offense hit five straight points with Katie Stafford registering three kills during the run to lead 5-2.
  • Through the media timeout, SCU pulled within three at 8-5. However, MACU closed out the match, winning seven of the last eight rallies. Morgan Cross, Kristen Straughn, and Katie Stafford led the Evangels late charge with two kills apiece during the closing stretch. The Evangels completed the five-set comeback after a 15-6 final set result.

MATCH NOTES

• MACU dominated offensive statistics by a 63-41 kill margin. The Evangels held a slight edge at .199 ATK% to the Eagles' .136. Both teams served well with eight service aces apiece.  
• Freshman Morgan Cross led the way offensively with a career-high 16 kills on an efficient .389 ATK%. Three other Evangels reached double digit kills as Mia Benson Seyi Atolagbe, and Marcela Nalin added 10 each.
• Kristen Straughn led distribution efforts with a career-high 41 assists. Gracelyn Skaggs added eight and Jasmine Liongco seven.
• The Evangels served eight aces as Madison Lee finished with four aces, Straughn right behind with two.
• On the defensive end, MACU had a well spread effort with Skaggs leading the team with 18 digs. Kaetlen Schier contributed 15, Straughn 11, and Marcela Nalin 10. The Evangels had eight blocks with Seyi Atolagbe and Katie Stafford having two apiece.   
• Mid-America Christian finished two games above .500 in Sooner Athletic Conference play at 12-10 and locked up the eighth and final playoff spot heading into next week's tournament.
• MACU improved its all-time record against crosstown rivals SCU to 29-11, as the Evangels have defeated the Eagles in eight consecutive matchups.    

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will take on the top seeded Nelson Lions on Tuesday evening with first serve slated for 6 P.M. in the Shaeffer Center in Waxahachie, Texas.