The Basics
Score: Evangel 3, #10 McPherson 1 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (19-11, 10-3), McPherson (26-3, 12-1)
Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel Volleyball returned home for their regular season finale on Friday (Nov. 6) night, hosting the 10th-ranked McPherson College Bulldogs. Needing a win to have the potential to host a conference tournament game, the Valor rallied after dropping the first set, taking a 3-1 win over the Bulldogs, spoiling their chance at an undefeated conference season.
The Valor jumped out to an early 14-5 lead over McPherson, taking advantage of a slow start from the McPherson offense. The Bulldogs got hot from the floor following a Simone Johnson kill, as Evangel began to struggle offensively, resulting in a 20-5 run to close the period for the road Bulldogs, as EU fell 25-19 in set one.
McPherson took a 8-4 lead over the Valor to open set two, but Evangel fought to tie the game at 11-11. Following a Bulldog kill, Evangel racked off a 6-0 run, taking advantage of McPherson attacking errors and kills from Charlotte Hawkins and Cienna Turner to take a 17-12 lead. The Bulldogs were able to fight back and trail 23-22, but a service error and kill from Johnson closed the set in Evangel's favor, 25-23.
Evangel and McPherson played a back-and-forth third set, as the Valor ultimately trailed late, 19-17. A kill from Johnson, followed by an ace from Mayci Routh, and blocks from the Valor defense allowed EU to grab a 24-19 lead on a 7-0 run. McPherson scored a pair of kills but Abby Ferguson closed the period with a kill in Evangel's 25-21 win in set three.
The Valor never trailed in set four as Evangel would not be denied the upset win on Friday, using a complete team effort in the final period of play, taking a 25-18 win.
HIGHLIGHTS
-
Evangel's win over McPherson broke a 24-game winning streak for the Bulldogs.
-
Simone Johnson led Evangel with 14 kills on Friday.
-
Charlotte Hawkins (11 kills) rounded out double digit kills on Friday.
-
Jessica Pritchett led EU with 23 assists in the win.
-
Abby Ferguson finished Friday with a team high six blocks.
-
Addison Jones led the Valor with 22 digs in Friday's win.
UP NEXT
Evangel Volleyball will await Saturday's results and see where their destination will be next Tuesday (Nov. 10) night in the KCAC Conference Tournament Quarterfinals. Evangel can be as high as the third seed and as low as the fifth seed in the upcoming tournament.
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
—#OneValor—
