The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 3, Cottey 0 | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 3, Freed-Hardeman 2  | Box Score

Record: Evangel (13-2), Cottey (4-6), Freed-Hardeman (7-4)

Location: St. Louis, Mo. (UHSP Gymnasium)

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Valor Volleyball opened the UHSP Classic on Friday (Sept. 12) afternoon, taking on Cottey and Freed-Hardeman, looking to continue their winning streak. Evangel took care of business in game one, sweeping Cottey, while EU needed all five sets to get past Freed-Hardeman, taking a 3-2 win and moving their winning streak to six games.

Cottey and Evangel played a tightly contested start to the first set, as EU led 13-12, before the Valor closed the set on a 12-2 run, using several kills from Bella Wakley to take a 25-14 win in set one.

Evangel opened set two on a 10-3 run, but the Comets fought back to draw within three points of the Valor lead, 12-9. Wakley and Vivianna Sanchez contributed to the EU offense to push Evangel to a 25-16 win in the second set.

The Valor defense ended up closing out the match against Cottey, as Sanchez recorded five blocks in the final period to help guide Evangel to a 25-19 win and sweep of the Cottey Comets.

In the first set of their matchup with Freed-Hardeman, the Valor led for the majority of the set. Despite having the lead, EU could not close out the Lions offense, as FHU generated a 3-0 run after trailing 24-23, taking a 26-24 win in set one.

Evangel rebounded in the second set, earning a win over the Lions, 25-17, as the Valor offense hit .233 in the set. Sharayah Seymour and Simone Johnson both recorded vital kills in the set as EU evened the score, 1-1.

Set three proved to be the pivotal set in Friday's game, as both teams traded the lead throughout. After it appeared EU may repeat set one and fall, the Valor did not back down, using a solo block from Sanchez and a kill from Brooke Daniels to take a 27-25 win, after being tied at 25-25.

The Valor struggled in set four, hitting negatively on offense as Freed-Hardeman was able to pick up their largest win of the night, 25-16, forcing a fifth and final set with Evangel.

EU dominated the fifth and final set, taking a 15-5 win after all momentum shifted back to the Evangel offense. Wakley and Sanchez both recorded three kills each in set five to push the Valor to a 2-0 day in St. Louis.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bella Wakley led Evangel with 27 combined kills on Friday.

• Brooklyn Claxton led the team with 37 combined assists.

• Kenna Wise finished with a team high 29 digs.

• Vivianna Sanchez closed out her Friday with 15 total blocks.

UP NEXT

Evangel takes on St. Francis and UHSP on Saturday (Sept. 13) afternoon, looking to finish the classic with an undefeated 4-0 record.

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.