Netters drop pair at OKC tourney

Sodich, Hudson, Calverley, Paschall shine

Team discovers its growl in tough setbacks

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma  --  Facing some very stiff competition at the Oklahoma City University Tournament, the young Southwestern Assemblies of God University volleyball team battled, resisted before finally yielding in two matches on Saturday afternoon.

Five of the six teams entered won twenty of more games last year, including SAGU, who went 23-18. Missouri’s College of the Ozarks, 29-8 in 2011, met a similar fate as the Lady Lions, each going 0-4 in the two-day event at the Abe Lemons Arena.

“They (the teams SAGU played) were very good,” said Head Coach Hansford Moore, who is in his twelfth season in Waxahachie. “We played good, but not well enough today. I am pleased with how we competed and fought until the end.”

The Lady Lions were taken in three sets by Lubbock Christian University; 8-25, 17-25 and 23-25. LCU was the tourney’s standout club, racking up four victories in as many tries. The Lady Chaparrals were 24-8 last season.

In the final match, SAGU and Tabor College (Kansas) engaged in a grinding four set affair that saw the Bluejays eke out a 3-1 triumph. The Lady Lions claimed the first game, 29-27, which the Jays equaled with a 29-27 second set victory.

The see-saw dual continued when Tabor, 20-11 last fall, nipped the Purple Pride, 26-24, in the third. They clinched the triumph, 25-20, to finish the tourney at 3-1.

MidAmerica Nazarene (Ks), 30-9 a year ago, also had a 3-1 mark, losing only to Lubbock in five sets; 24-26, 25-27, 25-20, 25-22, 13-15. The hosts, Oklahoma City University, had a 2-2 ledger.

Southwestern is now 1-4. They're averaging 20.82 points per game while allowing 22.27.

They travel to Fort Worth on Tuesday, August 28, where they will face arch-rival, Texas Wesleyan University (1-1 to date). The Lady Rams were 15-17 a year ago. The 7:00pm clash will be played in the Sid Richardson Center.

The Lady Lions are on the road for their first 11 matches before their home debut, September 18, when they entertain Jarvis Christian College.

Fresh faces impress; Paschall, Smith

Running up against a juggernaut in the Chaps, the Lions recovered from a rough first set, losing 25-8. They were outscored 50-40 in the next two. LCU hit a sizzling .407 to SAGU’s .112.

Freshman Caitlin Paschall (Waxahachie, Tx / Midlothian HS) turned in a solid effort with nine kills while hitting .438. Caitlyn Hudson (Mansfield, Tx / Legacy HS) played similarly. The senior nailed eight kills and made seven digs.

Emmalee Smith (Red Oak, Tx / Red Oak HS), one of four frosh on this year’s roster, registered 11 digs, while junior setter Taylor Calverley (Mansfield, Tx / Grace Prep) was credited with 22 assists.

Junior Brittany Briggs (Maypearl, Tx / Maypearl HS), the starting libero, saved eight Chap points with digs.

Sodich, Hudson crush career records in kills vs. Tabor

Next came a high-scoring match between the cats and birds saw the Bluejays tame the Lions, 107-100.

Jessica Sodich (Ovilla, Tx / Ovilla Christian) and Hudson were practically the only targets for Calverley, each getting 50+ swings at the net. Both were credited with career highs in kills; Hudson 25, Sodich with 23. Hudson totalled 22 digs, Sodich added 16 digs while Briggs registered 15.

Calverley’s 52 helpers gave her two 50+ assist nights in the first five matches! She served two aces and led the team with four assisted rejections.

Paschall chipped in with six kills, three assisted blocks and added two assists.

Smith topped SAGU with three aces, with Briggs firing a pair. Hudson added one.

Overall, Tabor won the arms race by outhitting the Lady Lions, .243 to .177.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU 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.