The Basics

Score: Evangel 3, Bethel 1 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (18-2, 5-0), Bethel (16-7, 4-2) 

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After taking a tough five set battle on the road at Saint Mary, Valor Volleyball played host to the Bethel College Threshers, looking to continue their hot streak in conference play. The Valor took a back and forth first set to help take momentum and fuel their way to victory on Saturday, 3-1.

The first set consisted of nine lead changes, as neither team could build a big enough run to get well past the other. The Valor took a 23-21 lead over Bethel on a kill from Bella Wakley, but the Threshers used a 4-1 run to take the lead, 25-24 over EU. Evangel and Bethel began trading pairs of points in the set, as neither team could grab the needed two point lead. With the score tied, 29-29, Wakley recorded a kill, followed by a set point win from Simone Johnson, giving EU the 31-29 victory in set one.

Evangel dominated in set two, swinging .345 on offense. The Valor led by just a single point, 12-11, when they generated a 9-2 run to run away with the set behind several kills from Loran Pritchett and a solo block from Vivianna Sanchez, 25-16.

Bethel was able to take the third set, although Evangel had plenty of opportunities to earn the sweep. The Valor had to play from behind the entire set and were able to even the score at 25-25 with a kill from Sanchez, but the Threshers scored the final two points, taking a 27-25 win over the Valor.

Bethel jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the fourth set and it appeared the Threshers had all the momentum in the game. The battle tested Valor made sure to show that they would not go down without a fight, making it a tie game, 14-14, after finding several kills from Loran Pritchett to spark the offense. After the Threshers took a 17-15 lead, the Valor took over. A 6-1 run from the Valor pushed EU out to a 21-18 lead and Bella Wakley helped push EU to victory, recording her 20th kill of the game at the end of the set, 25-23.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bella Wakley recorded 20 kills in the win on Saturday to lead the Valor.

• Mayci Routh led the team with 31 assists in the win.

• Kenna Wise led the team with 24 digs.

• Sharayah Seymour had a strong performance at the net, finishing with eight blocks in the win.

• Evangel earned their sixth consecutive win on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Evangel remains at home to host the nationally ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles at 7:00 p.m. in AGFinancial Arena on Wednesday (Oct. 16) night.

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.