SAGU netters take Steers, 3-0

Lady Lions apply brakes to skid

Cisneros, Laney, Cox blast 10 kills apiece

TYLER, Texas -- The women’s volleyball team from Southwestern Assemblies of God University ended a three-match losing streak with a 3-0 sweep of Texas College on Saturday in the Gus F. Taylor Gymnasium.

In take the three-set triumph with scores of 25-14, 25-21 and 25-19, the Lady Lions improved their overall ledger to 15-11 and evened their mark against the Red River Athletic Conference to 4-4.

The Lady Steers (4-18, 0-7 in RRAC) were tougher than anticipated as their 54 points indicated. That was the most they have scored in any of their 3-0 losses to UT-Brownsville (29), Our Lady of the Lake (45), Wiley College (24) and Texas Wesleyan (37).

SAGU had their best hitting performance since sweeping Huston-Tillotson , by swinging .308 against the Steers. Averaging .180, which is fifth in the 10-team RRAC, the figure represents their second plus + .300 match of the season.

Coach Hansford Moore’s team pounded 47 kills against only 15 hitting errors while limiting Texas College to .167, 22 and nine.

Senior middle blocker Krystal Cisneros (El Paso, Tx / Del Valle HS), returning from an injury, was one of three players with 10 kills, joined by Amanda Laney (New Braunfels, Tx / New Braunfels Christian) and Kassy Cox (Lufkin, Tx / Lufkin HS). Jessica Sodich (Ovilla, Tx / Ovilla Christian), the team leader in kills, delivered seven in the “Gus.”

Caitlyn Hudson (Mansfield, Tx / Legacy HS) led the Lady Lions in digs with a dozen. Laura Espinoza (Duncanville, Tx / Duncanville HS), who has made more digs than anyone in the league, scooped up eleven.

Sophomore setter Taylor Calverley (Mansfield, Tx / Grace Prep) had 38 assists, her fourth best night of the season and best in eight matches. She was held to her season-low (23) the night before against Wiley College. Calverley also had nine digs. Espinoza added five assists.

SAGU’s service game, minus their leader in Devan Guynes  (Red Oak, Tx / Red Oak HS), rifled seven aces. Tina Brown (New Braunfels, Tx / Lifegate Christian) and Calverley each had three, while Carleigh Dollar (Brock, Tx / Brock HS) dished up a solo hot potato. Guynes, who is 4th in the RRAC in aces, is out with an undisclosed leg injury.

Lions upcoming menu

Southwestern has four remaining matches in the regular season, all at home. Next Saturday, October 29, they play a double-header in the Sheaffer Center versus two teams from the Sooner Athletic Conference.

Mid-America Christian University (5-19, 1-9 in SAC) will face the Lions at 11:00am. At 5:00pm they will take on Southern Nazarene University (24-5, 8-2 in SAC). Both matches will be aired in High Definition by SAGU Sports Live.

The following weekend will pit the Lady Lions against two squads from the RRAC; St. Thomas (15-12, 4-3 in RRAC) on Friday, November 4 at 6:00pm and University of the Southwest (4-19, 3-4) at 1:00pm on Nov. 5. Coach Moore will honor senior players that weekend.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.