The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 0, (RV) The Master's 3 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 1, Briar Cliff 3 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (4-4), The Master's (9-4), Briar Cliff (3-6)
Location: North Sioux City, S.D. (United Sports Academy)
NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – Valor Volleyball capped off the CSM Labor Day Classic on Saturday (Sept. 2) afternoon, taking on tough competition. EU faced off against The Master's first, who were receiving votes in the most recent top 25 poll, and then took on Briar Cliff in basically a home game, as their campus is just a 10 minute drive from United Sports Academy.
In the first match of the day, the Valor fought hard, hanging tough against The Master's, but falling just short in every set, 3-0.
Evangel and The Master's played a competitive first set, with each team going point for point against one another. After a Jessica Pritchett kill tied the set up at 20-20, the Master's took advantage of a trio of Valor errors and recorded a kill and service ace to take the set over the Valor, 25-22.
Evangel raced out to a 10-5 lead to open set two, thanks to several kills from Vivianna Sanchez and Abi Menzies. The Master's responded with a 5-0 run of their own to tie the game. Both teams traded points, tying the game up at 17 apiece. An 8-2 run by The Master's ended the set, as Evangel could not find an answer to stop their run, falling 25-19.
The Valor again opened the set with a lead, using a Bella Wakley service ace to take a 6-3 lead. Similar to the last two sets, Evangel and The Master's would play a tight set, tied up at 16-16, before the Master's again found their footing, using a 9-4 run to take a 25-20 win in set three, sweeping Evangel, 3-0.
HIGHLIGHTS
In game two of the day, Evangel took on Briar Cliff, looking to end the Labor Day Classic off with a win. After dominating the second set, the Valor were unable to keep up with Briar Cliff's runs, falling in four sets, 3-1.
As was the usual for the day, each team went on periods of runs in the first set. Briar Cliff was able to take a 18-14 lead, before Evangel woke up and created a run of their own. A pair of Bella Wakley kills and a Mustang attacking error pushed Evangel to a tie with Briar Cliff at 19-19. Briar Cliff was able to stop Evangel's run, but each team began going point for point against one another. A kill by Mallory Dick drew the Valor within a point, 24-23, but Briar Cliff ended the set with a kill of their own, taking set one, 25-23.
Evangel dominated in set two. The Valor looked the best they had the entire day in the set, as they flew out to a 6-0 lead, and were able to score 23 points before the Mustangs had 10. Several kills from Bella Wakley helped fuel the Valor in the second set, as they took a 25-12 win, capped off by a Mallory Dick kill.
Despite hanging with Briar Cliff in set three, the Valor again could not find the run to close out the set. Tied at 18-18, several kills by the Briar Cliff middle hurt Evangel, as they fell, 25-21.
After Evangel and Briar Cliff tied the score at 8-8 in the fourth set, a 5-0 Briar Cliff run proved to be the difference in the set. Evangel was able to draw within a single point after a Mustangs attacking error, but again it was the opposing team who earned the final run, taking a 25-21 victory over Evangel.
HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
Evangel takes on York in their conference opener and opening game of the Evangel Quad, beginning on Friday (Sept. 8) afternoon at 2:30 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
