The Basics
Score: Evangel 0, Dordt 3 | Box Score
Score: Evangel 3, Saint Francis (Ind.) 1 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (6-5), Dordt (8-2), Saint Francis (4-8)
Location: Omaha, Neb. (Lied Fieldhouse)
OMAHA, Neb. – Evangel Volleyball resumed their extended road trip, traveling north to Omaha, Nebraska, to compete at the tough CSM Labor Day Classic. The Valor would split the day against their opponents, dropping their matchup in straight sets with Dordt but defeating the Saint Francis Cougars in four sets in the Friday finale.
Dordt jumped out to an early lead over Evangel in set one on Friday, as the Defenders swung .519 in the set, recording 15 kills and just one attacking error. The Valor could not keep pace with Dordt's offense, falling 25-13 in set one.
In set two, the Defenders took a 17-9 lead over the Valor, but Evangel fought back. Jessica Pritchett recorded several kills while Dordt hit several attacking errors and the Valor were within a point of the lead, 24-23. Unfortunately, Dordt scored the final point in the set, forcing EU to drop their second set of the game.
The third set proved to be tough for Evangel, as the Valor swung -.026, never getting settled into the set and falling 25-11, dropping their first match of the day to Dordt.
Evangel never trailed in set one of their matchup with Saint Francis, as Charlotte Hawkins recorded five kills and Pritchett recorded four in the first period of play. Hawkins would close the set with a kill on a feed from Pritchett, giving EU a 25-17 win in set one.
The Valor led by as much as five in the second set, as Ashya Thompson recorded several kills to keep EU ahead on the scoreboard. Leading 19-15, Evangel struggled through the end of the set, as Saint Francis went on a 6-0 run to grab a lead. Both teams would go on brief 2-0 runs, but the Cougars ended the set on top, 28-26.
Saint Francis opened set three on a 8-6 run, but the Valor would use a 14-5 run to take a 22-11 lead, highlighted by several blocks from the Evangel defense. A pair of kills from Abby Ferguson and one from Pritchett closed the set in Evangel's favor, taking a 25-15 win in set three.
The Cougars again would open the set on a big run, leading 9-2 over Evangel, but the Valor would battle, using a 14-1 run to lead 16-10. EU did not look back in the set as Cienna Turner recorded several kills to keep the Valor on top, taking a 25-20 win in set four and overall win over Saint Francis.
HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
Evangel Volleyball concludes the CSM Labor Day Classic on Saturday (Sept. 5), taking on Viterbo and Peru State at 11:00 a.m., and 3:00 p.m., 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. Â
—#OneValor—
