From MACU Sports Information
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian Lady Evangels won both matches in their tri-match today, winning each in three sets over Texas College and Southwestern Christian University. The two victories give MACU its best start since joining the NAIA at 4-1.
In the first match of the day, Batley powered the Lady Evangels to their opening victory with match-highs of 21 assists and 10 service aces to lead a 25-9, 25-19, 25-19 victory over the Lady Steers. Her 10 service aces equal the most for the Lady Evangels since joining the NAIA, tying Kamlynn Schodt’s mark set back in 2010. Batley, the Sooner Athletic Conference leader in service aces last year, pounded nine of her 10 aces in the final two sets.
The Lady Evangels raced out to a 10-2 lead in the opening set and then stretched the edge to 16-3 on a pair of service aces by Shelbie Wright.
MACU got off to another strong start in the second half and led 10-3. The Lady Steers fought back with the help three consecutive attack errors by the Lady Evangels to get within 15-12. But kills by Batley and Kacee Montgomery and an ace from Becca Anderson fueled a 5-1 spurt that grew the lead back to 20-13.
The Lady Evangels held a 14-10 lead in the third set when three straight aces from Batley fueled an 8-2 run that gave MACU a double-digit lead of 22-12.
The Lady Steers made things interesting though four errors and a kill from Sherri Darden cut the lead to 22-19. MACU then put the match away with three straight points on a kill from Wright and two straight errors by the Lady Steers.
Kacee Montgomery had a team-high nine digs for the Lady Evangels, while Rene’ Crockett led the way with nine kills.
Sherri Darden had a team-high five kills for the Lady Steers and Kerryonna Green had seven digs.
MACU then capped the night by taking care of the SCU Lady Eagles in three sets by scores of 25-13, 25-13 and 25-18. Taryn Walker helped the Lady Evangels open things up in the opening set with four kills during an 11-4 run that turned a three-point edge into a 21-11 cushion.
In the second set, the Lady Evangels were up 14-11 when Walker again came through with three straight kills as MACU closed out the set on an 11-2 spurt.
Priscila West then nailed back-to-back kills at the end of the third set as the Lady Evangels scored the final four points to notch the victory.
Batley continued her stellar play with 33 assists and eight kills. Anderson led the way with 10 kills, while Walker contributed 13 digs and eight kills. Rene’ Crockett had 10 digs and seven kills.
Rachel Church led the Lady Eagles with five kills, with Jessie Crenshaw and Emily Bedford recording nine digs each.
The Lady Evangels will get right back at it tomorrow with a pair of matches at the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Invitational. MACU will play Central Baptist at 5 p.m. and then Oklahoma Wesleyan at 7 p.m. in Bartlesville, Okla.
Levi Convirs is the Sports Information Director at Mid-America Christian University.