Point Lookout, MO
August 24, 2018 | Blake Cochran
The Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) volleyball season is officially underway while playing 4 matchups in the College of the Ozarks tournament. Day one opened up playing Bellevue University , in a tough match up to start the season off, at 5 pm, then the later match being against the Crusaders of Evangel University at 7pm.
Bellevue looking to build off a 30 win season, SAGU was ready for the task in front of them. Ranked #21 in the country and returning All-American hitter Shayla Scanlan, the Lions were thrown into the battle and took set 1 25-21. Set 2 was an intense matchup that went to the very end resulting in a 2 point win for the Bruins, 25-23. The Lions knew they needed to win set 3 and they did just that without looking back capturing their first win of the season, 25-19, in set 4 of the highly anticipated matchup of the tournament. Senior hitters, Kali Shaw and Suzanny Figueiredo finished the game with 40 kills combined, Shaw with 22 and Figuiredo knocking down 18. Another key senior, Celi Bruce had an impressive 33 digs for the battle while, setter, Sophia Ivy had great control on the ball helping assist 39 times.
1-0 and looking to capture another win following the matchup against Bellevue. Evangel took advantage of the early start to their season, with this being their fifth game of the season, taking sets 1 and 2, 23-25 and 22-25. The Lions had to have a good third set or their night would be over, taking set 3 25-13. In the fifth set, Celi moved up in the record books placing her 4th for most digs ever by a Lion with 17 digs against Evangel. Shortly after, the Lions lost their first game of the year, 24-26 in set 5. Kali had another great game with 22 kills and 13 digs.
Coach Hank Moore was impressed with how his team opened the season saying, “Our kids played extremely well.” The Lions will take on Culver-Stockton in game 3 and the host team College of the Ozarks following their matchup with CSC.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu
