SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Valor Volleyball opens their 59th season on Friday and Saturday (August 21/22) in Oklahoma City, Okla., taking part in the OKC Stars Invitational.
The Valor will take on LSU-Shreveport and Oklahoma City on Friday, before closing out the invitational with a matchup against Wayland Baptist. All live streams this weekend are PPV, but live stats can be monitored free of charge through the links provided on the Evangel website.
OPENING STORYLINES
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Evangel had an exceptional 2025 season, going 30-5 and finishing as a conference tournament semifinalist for the second straight season.
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2026 will be Hall of Fame Head Coach Mary Whitehead's final season at the helm, as she opens her 27th season with a record of 575-329.
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The Valor, who lost All-American Vivianna Sanchez, as well as All-KCAC performers Bella Wakley, Sharayah Seymour, and Kenna Wise, will look to reload this season, with help from returners Charlotte Hawkins (228 kills), Simone Johnson (201 kills), and Cienna Turner (168 kills), as well as their pair of setters Brooklyn Claxton (635 assists) and Jessica Pritchett (606 assists). Defensively, Addison Allen (225 digs), Brooke Daniels (92 digs), and Addison Jones (83 digs) return for Evangel.
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EU also adds four high school standouts and a collegiate transfer to help add depth to the Valor lineup.
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The Valor were projected to finish fourth in the KCAC in 2026, behind McPherson, Oklahoma Wesleyan, and Bethel, respectively.
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Evangel leads Oklahoma City (4-2) and Wayland Baptist (3-0) all-time, and has never competed against LSU-Shreveport.
LOOKING AHEAD
Valor Volleyball will play host to the Central Methodist Eagles on Tuesday (Aug. 25) evening, looking to take a win in their home opener against their former HAAC foe at 6:00 p.m.
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.
—#OneValor—
