The Basics

Score: Evangel 1, #5 McPherson 3 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (29-4, 11-2), McPherson (30-1, 13-0)

Location: McPherson, Kan. ("The Kennel")

MCPHERSON, Kan. – Evangel Volleyball hit the road on Saturday (Nov. 8) afternoon, to take on the McPherson Bulldogs, with the winner of the match claiming the KCAC Regular Season Championship. Evangel would fight and take the first set on Saturday, the first time McPherson has trailed in a game since October 11th, but the Bulldogs would rally, forcing EU to fall in four sets, 3-1.

Evangel and McPherson played a tight first set, until a 6-0 Evangel run after leading 14-13 gave the Valor a 20-13 lead. The EU offense was clicking in set one, swinging a game high .333 attacking percentage, as the Valor took the first set, 25-17, behind several kills from Vivianna Sanchez, Simone Johnson, and Charlotte Hawkins.

McPherson took an early lead in set two and generated a run midway through the set to run away from EU, 25-16, as the Bulldogs finished with 17 kills and just one attacking error in the second set.

Evangel's offense struggled in the third set, as McPherson took advantage of several EU attacking errors to take a 14-7 lead in the set. The Valor would not back down from the challenge, as they fought all the way back to just a three point deficit, 24-21, but the damage had been done, as EU fell on the following point, trailing 2-1.

After both teams continued to trade points to open set four, McPherson worked a 6-0 run to take a 20-13 lead over the Valor in the period. Simone Johnson continued to fight for Evangel's offense, recording several kills to help EU trail by just two points, 21-19, in the set. McPherson and Evangel's Vivianna Sanchez continued to trade points, but ultimately, the earlier run in the set proved to be too much to overcome, as EU fell 25-22 in the set, coming up just shy of the conference title.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Simone Johnson led EU with 15 kills on Saturday.

• Brooklyn Claxton led the team with 23 assists.

• Vivianna Sanchez recorded nine blocks in the loss.

• Kenna Wise finished Saturday with 19 digs to lead the Valor.

• Jessica Pritchett finished Saturday with three service aces to lead EU.

UP NEXT

Evangel Volleyball earned the three seed in the upcoming KCAC Conference Tournament and takes on the 6th-seeded Ottawa Braves on Tuesday (Nov. 11) night at 7:00 p.m. in AGFinancial Arena.

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.