The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 0, Mayville State 3 | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 3, Governor's State 0 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (4-2), Mayville State (3-1), Governor's State (0-7)

Location: North Sioux City, S.D. (United Sports Academy)

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – Valor Volleyball headed north to compete in the CSM Labor Day Classic on Friday (Sept. 1) afternoon, looking to continue their strong start to the season. The Valor struggled to generate strong runs against Mayville State, ultimately falling, 3-0, but rebounded in a big way, using 15 service aces to help sweep Governor's State in the night cap, 3-0.

The first match of the day saw Evangel take on the Mayville State Comets. The Valor hurt themselves with several attacking errors, never able to fully find their footing in the game as they fell, 3-0.

After a back and forth race to 10 points, Evangel took a 10-9 lead on a Comets attacking error. Mayville State responded with a 10-3 run to take a 19-13 lead over Evangel. The Valor would fight to make set one close, using a Vivianna Sanchez kill as well as three Bella Wakley kills to draw the Valor as close as two points to Mayville State, but the Comets recorded their final kill of set one to take a 25-22 victory over Evangel.

Evangel struggled to hit their spots in set two, swinging a -.070 attacking percentage. The Comets raced out to a 12-4 lead over the Valor, but Mayville State hurt themselves by hitting into several attacking errors. These errors accompanied by kills from Abi Menzies and Wakley helped Evangel draw to within three points of the Comets, but a 7-3 Mayville State run ended the set, as EU fell down two sets, 25-18.

After the Comets again pushed out to an early lead, 10-5, the Valor began to fight back with their backs against the wall. Two kills from Mallory Dick and a kill by Sharayah Seymour, accompanied with a few Mayville State attacking errors helped the Valor tie it up at 14-14. Evangel used a 7-4 run after the tie game to push out to a 21-18 lead, but a Comets timeout took the wind out of EU's sails, as the Comets ended the set on a 7-4 run of their own, taking the final set and game, 25-23.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bella Wakley finished with a team high 11 kills.

• Jessica Pritchett led the team with 16 assists in the game.

• EU finished with a .067 attacking percentage, recording 33 kills to 25 attacking errors.

• Kayli Nimmo and Leah Jackson both recorded a service ace in the loss.

Evangel took on Governor's State in game two, looking to turn Friday around with a win. The Valor did just that, dominating on service, and helping guide EU to a three-set sweep of the Jaguars.

The Jaguars struggled in set one as they could not generate any sort of offense. Evangel found strong attacks from Sharayah Seymour to open the set, as well as service aces from Jessica Pritchett and Leah Jackson to take an early lead. Evangel had recorded 17 points by the time Governor's State reached double digits. Although the Valor did not attack well in set one, the Jaguars also struggled, helping the Valor take the set, 25-16.

Evangel kicked off set two with a 5-0 run, but the Jaguars began to slowly find their offense and forced the Valor into errors. Governor's State used a 10-1 run to take a 10-6 lead over EU, and Evangel was forced to play catch-up for the remainder of the set. With the Valor trailing 19-14, Evangel used an 8-1 run to recapture the lead at 22-20. The Jaguars scored the next two points to tie the set up, but a Sharayah Seymour kill accompanied by two Jaguar mistakes cost Governor's State, as Evangel took the second set, 25-23.

The third set was all Evangel. Seven service aces in the set alone, including three back-to-back-to-back by Jessica Pritchett, highlighted the final frame. The Valor attack was at its sharpest of the day, hitting .297 in the final set. A Sharayah Seymour kill secured the game for Evangel, 25-11, in set three.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sharayah Seymour led the team with 11 kills against Mayville State.

• Jessica Pritchett continues to show her serving prowess, hitting five aces against the Jaguars.

• Kenna Wise recorded 21 digs in the victory.

• Faith Henry, Kenna Wise, Melanie Cox, Meredith Avery, and Leah Jackson all also recorded service aces in the three set sweep.

UP NEXT

Evangel concludes the CSM Labor Day Classic tomorrow (Sept. 2) afternoon as they take on (RV) The Master's at 1:00 p.m., followed by a matchup with Briar Cliff at 5:00 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.