The Basics

Score: Evangel 0, (11) Park 3 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (8-8), Park (9-3)

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After recording three consecutive sweeps, Evangel hosted nationally ranked Park, looking to add a fourth to their total. Still without lead attacker, Tori Lowry, the Valor struggled on the attack and ultimately fell to the #11 Pirates, 3-0.

In Evangel's first set, Park pushed out to an early 12-6 lead. The Valor offense slowly began to hit their spots on the floor, as Bella Wakley recorded a pair of kills to draw the Valor closer to Park. Trailing 15-11, the Valor used kills by Abi Menzies and Rylie Morrison, as well as blocks by Morrison and Vivianna Sanchez to fight back to just a one point deficit. Park found additional offense soon after to again increase their lead, but Evangel kept the fight close. With the score at 23-20, the Valor narrowed the distance to just two points twice, before Park ultimately took the set, 25-22.

The Valor came out steady in the second set, keeping the score close. Evangel's blockers were performing well and the EU attacking percentage began to rise. The Pirates began firing on all cylinders and used a run to distance themselves on the scoreboard, but the tenacious Valor offense continued to fight. A Wakley kill off a Meredith Avery feed put EU just a point behind Park, but similar to the first set, Park grew hot and Evangel grew cold. Park used a 7-1 run to maintain their lead, taking the set, 25-20.

Evangel had no answer for the park attack to begin the third set. Several attacking errors by the Valor and kills by Park gave the Pirates an early 11-0 lead. Despite leading by double digits, the Valor did not go down without a fight. Kills by Sharayah Seymour helped EU narrow the deficit, but the damage had been done as EU dropped the final set, 25-14. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Menzies led the Valor with a team high of eight kills.

• Leah Jackson led Evangel with 14 assists.

• Eryn Russell finished with a team high 15 digs in the loss.

• The Valor struggled on offense, finishing with a .097 attacking percentage and 10 service errors.

UP NEXT

Evangel will finish their three game home stay tomorrow (Sept. 17) afternoon at 2:00 p.m. against MidAmerica Nazarene.

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

—#OneValor—