The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 3, Presentation 1 | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 3, (2) Midland 0 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (4-5), Presentation (1-7), (2) Midland (9-1)

Location: North Sioux City, S.D. (CNOS Fieldhouse)

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – After a week off from matches, Valor Volleyball hit the road to participate in the CSM Labor Day Classic in North Sioux City, South Dakota. 

In Evangel's first match of the day, the Valor took on the Saints of Presentation for the first time in Valor history. A strong first two sets pushed Evangel to victory after dropping the third, 3-1.

In the first set, the Valor came out firing on all cylinders. The Valor recorded 15 kills in the set and finished with a .462 attacking percentage, their highest in a set this season. The Saints kept the first set close until a 5-0 run gave EU the distance they needed to claim a 25-18 victory. Evangel's second set was nearly as consistent as the first. The strong Valor attack kept Presentation on their heels and two 7-0 runs by EU claimed the set, 25-12. In the third set, Evangel began to slow on offense and fell behind after a quick Saint run to start the match. The Valor were never able to recover in the set, falling 25-19. In the fourth and final set of the match, EU fell behind, similar to the third set. Trailing 15-10, the Valor knew they needed to make a push in order to end the game in the fourth set. Sharayah Seymour and the Valor offense answered the call as a Ciera Reyes kill, followed by three consecutive Seymour service aces and an Abi Menzies block evened the game up. After tying the game up, Presentation regained their lead and it appeared that Evangel needed a fifth set to attempt to grab the win, but trailing 24-21, the Valor again found offense and ended the game on a 5-0 run that was fueled by blocks by Tori Lowry, Reyes, and Seymour, giving Evangel the final 3-1 victory.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Reyes led all attackers with 14 kills in the game.

• Sydney Dunavant led the team with 16 assists in the game.

• Bella Wakley finished with the team lead of 19 digs in game one.

• Seymour finished game one with seven service aces.

The second match of the day featured Evangel taking on the number two ranked team in the nation, Midland, in the night cap. During the game, Eryn Russell broke Jorden Stacey's previous school record for digs in a career.

In the first set, Midland kicked off the match on a 14-4 run that Evangel could not overcome. The Vikings offense swung a game high .400 attacking percentage while Evangel broke even with a .000 percentage as they fell, 25-11. Evangel was able to claw back a bit in the second set, falling 25-13, as the Midland unit continued to be everywhere on the floor and attack well. In Evangel's final set, Russell dove for a ball and successfully dug it, giving her the new school record for digs in a career, highlighting the Valor night. The final set was a battle between both squads, with the Valor hanging tough with Midland. Trailing 23-22, the Vikings closed the game out on a 2-0 run, taking the game over the Valor.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Russell's 11 digs of the game was the team high. Her 8th dig of the night was the record-breaking dig, putting her at 2,235 digs in her career.

• Lowry led Evangel with six kills.

• Leah Jackson finished with a team high nine assists.

UP NEXT

Evangel will conclude the CSM Labor Day Classic with matches against York and (10) Concordia beginning at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow in North Sioux City, S.D.

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—