The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 3, Bethel 0 | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 3, Haskell 0 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (11-9), Bethel (13-5), Haskell (5-10)

Location: North Newton, Kan. (Thresher Gym)

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – Taking a break from the conference schedule, Evangel Volleyball competed in the Bethel Tri-Match on Friday, looking to grab two quick wins. The Valor were also competing to get Coach Mary Whitehead her 500th career win. By the time all the games had been completed, the Valor had accomplished both goals, sweeping both Bethel and Haskell, and putting Coach Whitehead into the history books with her 500th career win.

Evangel took on Bethel in the first match of the day. The Threshers put up a solid attack, but the Valor offense could not be stopped, giving EU the win.

Bethel limited their offensive mistakes in the entire game, making the Valor offense work to win points. Evangel came out strong on offense and took an early lead. The Threshers struggled to keep pace with the Valor attack and Evangel maintained the small cushion they had to take a 25-19 victory in set one. The Valor offense was in full swing in set two as they used a game high .361 attacking percentage to again get past Bethel. The Valor again grabbed an early 7-5 lead and were able to maintain the margin by using an effective attack. After another 25-19 victory in set two, all the momentum favored Evangel and it appeared that head coach Mary Whitehead would clinch her 500th career win. A Sharayah Seymour kill accompanied by a Bethel attacking error did just that and Evangel had came away with a strong sweep of the Threshers, 25-20.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Coach Whitehead claimed her 500th career win in the game. Whitehead is one of just 11 active coaches in the NAIA to claim 500 wins.

• Rylie Morrison led all attackers with 11 kills in the game.

• Leah Jackson led the team with 22 assists in the game.

• Eryn Russell finished with the team lead of nine digs in game one.

The second match of the day featured Evangel taking on the Fightin' Indians of Haskell. Evangel showed excellent offense and defense and swept Haskell, 3-0.

Evangel and Haskell played a close first half of the opening set, but Evangel used an 11-1 run to end the set, capitalizing on several Haskell errors and recording several blocks and kills by Abi Menzies and Vivianna Sanchez. In set two, the Valor offense could not be stopped. Tori Lowry made her presence known in the set, as she recorded four consecutive kills to build a large Evangel lead. Lowry ended the set with the winning point, 25-16. The Fightin' Indians and the Valor went point for point to begin the third set, but a huge 16-3 run to end the set was all Evangel needed to claim the final sweep of the day.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Lowry led Evangel with nine kills in just her second game back from injury.

• Sydney Dunavant finished the game with 19 assists.

• Russell led the way with 14 digs in the sweep of Haskell.

UP NEXT

Evangel will take a week off and travel to Benedictine next Friday (Sept. 30) at 7:00 p.m. to resume their conference schedule.

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—