The Basics
Match 1: William Woods 3, Evangel 1 | Game Box
Match 2: Evangel 3, No. 18 Ottawa 2 | Game Box
Records: Evangel (1-1); William Woods (2-1), Ottawa (0-2)
Site: Southwell Gym

Columbia, Mo. – The Evangel volleyball team split a pair of matches to open its 2021 campaign at the Hamption Inn Classic Friday, dropping a four-set decision to William Woods (3-1), before rebounding with a five-set victory (3-2) over No. 18 Ottawa.

EU and William Woods played a back and forth first set before EU went on a five-point run to set the game at 18-12. Daisy Eklund would finish the first set off with a kill set up by Jorden Stacey.

The next three sets would follow a similar pattern, but William Woods would maintain their lead until the end in every set.

Highlights

• Eklund led Evangel in kills with 13
• Eryn Russell began the season with 18 digs in the match
• William Woods Lanie Lowry led all attackers with 17 kills
• The Owls won the advantage in blocks 11-3.
• Stacey finished with a team high 24 assists.

In the second match of the day, a slow first set for EU didn't prove detrimental for the team as they took down No. 18 Ottawa, 3-2.

Evangel rallied for the comeback victory after dropping the first set by a 25-15 margin, with a 25-18 win in the second.

Tied up at one set apiece and looking to gain the upper hand in the third, Evangel and Ottawa found themselves tied up 26-26. Eklund and Mackenzie Stoner came up huge for EU with a block-assist, and Ottawa would commit an attack error to give EU the set.

Evangel would drop a 25-15 fourth-set decision, but the fifth set featured four lead changes before EU ultimately prevailed. EU countered a series of Ottawa attacks with key points of its own. Ciera Reyes put away the deciding point of the set off of an assist from Leah Jackson to finish the victory.

Highlights

• Regan Ansley led EU in kills with 15
• Russell again showed her defensive prowess with a 21-dig performance
• Ottawa's Ayona Tharps led all players with 20 kills
• Tori Lowry and Eklund finished with double digits in two categories, kills and digs
• This is EU's first victory over a Top 25 team since they beat No. 25 Ottawa back in 2019.

Up Next

Evangel will take on Columbia College and Tabor tomorrow morning, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Hampton Inn Classic.

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, visit Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics, Twitter (@EUAthletics), or EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on their favorite EU teams by downloading the new Evangel Athletics Gameday App through Google Play.