The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 3, Huston Tillotson 0 | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 1, (RV) Texas Wesleyan 3 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (5-1), Huston Tillotson (0-2), Texas Wesleyan (3-2) 

Location: Fort Worth, Texas (Sid Richardson Center)

FORT WORTH, Texas – Valor Volleyball hit the road on Friday to compete in the Texas Two Step, stopping first in Fort Worth to take on Huston Tillotson and Texas Wesleyan, who was receiving votes in the most recent Top 25 rating. The Valor would claim their match against Huston Tillotson in straight sets and put up a strong effort against Texas Wesleyan, but were unable to put late sets away, falling 3-1.

Evangel took advantage of poor offense from Huston Tillotson in set one, as the Rams swung -.250 with four kills and nine attacking errors. The Valor jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first set and led by 12, 21-9, before Jessica Pritchett closed out the set with a pair of service aces to take a 25-11 win in set one.

The Rams earned their first lead and had the set tied at 13-13 before Evangel went on a big run, aided again by several Huston Tillotson attacking errors, taking a 25-19 win in the second set.

Huston Tillotson put forth their best set in what ended up being the final set of the game, as they swung positive for the first time of the afternoon. Bella Wakley and Cienna Turner led the Valor offense in the final set, using several kills to help fuel the Valor to a 25-22 victory and sweep of the Rams.

The Valor took on the Rams, this time of Texas Wesleyan, in their final game of the evening in Fort Worth, looking to take an upset victory. The Rams jumped out to a 19-11 lead over Evangel, but EU hung tough, generating a 7-0 run with four kills coming from Charlotte Hawkins, to trail just 19-18. The fight to come back in the set proved to not be enough though, as the Rams offense woke back up, ending the set on a 6-3 run to force EU to fall, 25-21.

Evangel never trailed in set two, but Texas Wesleyan was able to make the set interesting by ending the set on a 7-1 run, as the Valor lead 24-14 and won the set, 25-21 on an attacking error from the Rams.

In the third set that proved to be decisive, the Valor offense pushed out to a 17-16 lead on a Bella Wakley kill. Unfortunately for EU, the offense would swing into several attacking errors, allowing the Rams to close the set on a 9-0 run, falling 25-17 and needing two consecutive set wins to take the overall victory.

Mistakes from the Evangel offense proved to be the difference in the fourth and final set of Friday's matchup with Texas Wesleyan, as the Valor would jump out to as much as a 19-13 lead over the Rams and led 24-19, needing just a single point to force a fifth and final set. Texas Wesleyan would take advantage of attacking errors and block several EU attacks to take a 25-24 lead over the Valor. Both teams went back and forth trading points until the Rams ultimately scored a pair in a row, taking a 32-30 win over the Valor.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bella Wakley led Evangel with 19 combined kills on Friday.

• Jessica Pritchett led the team with 30 combined assists.

• Kenna Wise finished her evening with 32 combined digs to lead the team.

• Vivianna Sanchez recorded 13 total blocks.

• Pritchett recorded a team high seven service aces on Friday.

UP NEXT

The Valor will drive to Waxahachie, Texas, to take on Louisiana Christian and Nelson at 12 and 2 p.m. tomorrow, respectively.

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.