The Basics
Score: Evangel 3, McPherson 2 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (9-11, 5-3), McPherson (14-7, 4-4)
Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Valor Volleyball hosted the McPherson Bulldogs on Saturday (Oct. 14) afternoon, looking to bounce back after suffering back to back losses to a pair of strong conference teams. After a fast start, Evangel dropped sets two and three, bouncing back to win set four and ultimately taking a narrow victory over McPherson in five sets, 3-2.
The Valor raced out to a quick 16-7 lead over the Bulldogs in set one, taking the momentum out of the gate and running with it. Several kills by Bella Wakley helped to lead the Valor charge. McPherson would put up a fight to draw within four points of Evangel, but EU's early run proved to be the difference as a service error ended set one, 25-18, in favor of the Valor.
Set two was a set full of runs between both teams. Evangel opened the set on a 5-3 run, followed by a McPherson run that gave the Bulldogs a 7-5 lead. After both teams continued to trade runs, EU and McPherson found themselves deadlocked at 20-20. A 4-1 run for the Bulldogs put McPherson just a point shy of the set victory, 24-21. A service error and service ace by Kenna Wise pushed EU to trail by just a point, 24-23, but McPherson used a kill to end the set, 25-23.
Both teams again played a close set in the third, as both teams were tied at 10-10. McPherson doubled the offensive output of Evangel from that point, as they were able to use a run to take a 25-17 win in the third set.
With McPherson leading, 14-13, in set four, the Valor needed a run to stick with their opponent. Kills from Vivianna Sanchez and Mallory Dick, as well as a pair of service aces for Bella Wakley helped EU take a 17-14 lead. This 4-0 run proved to be the difference in the set, as both teams traded points until EU hit 25, forcing a fifth and final set, 25-22.
The Valor scored the first three points in the race to 15 final set, but McPherson would counter with their own run in the set. Tied up at 10-10, both teams went point for point with one another. With the score at 13-13, Evangel needed a pair of points to take the victory. A block from Vivianna Sanchez, followed by a game-sealing block from Mallory Dick and Sharayah Seymour gave the Valor the two points they needed, as they earned the come from behind victory, 3-2.
HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
Evangel remains at home to host Southwestern College on Wednesday (Oct. 18) evening at 7:00 p.m.
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. Â
