Lady Lions play host to 11 dates this fall

Home itinerary includes 7 winning teams, two ranked foes

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  — The winningest team at Southwestern Assemblies of God University over the past twelve years has released its 2013 schedule.

Volleyball Head Coach Hansford “Hank” Moore enters his 13th campaign riding eight straight winning regular seasons and has enjoyed success in 11 of those 12 seasons.

The Ohio native has amassed a 249-193 (.563) career ledger at SAGU.

The Lady Lions have qualified for a berth in the Red River Athletic Conference tournament in nine consecutive years.

SAGU lost to St. Thomas in the opening round of the tourney. They rebounded to compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association ’s (NCCAA) Central Regional, which SAGU hosted.

The Lady Lions went 1-2, falling to McMurry University (NCAA D2), who went on to win the region. At the 10-team nationals in Orlando, the WarHawks (25-10), the #10 seeded team, won the NCCAA championship.

As new members in the Sooner Athletic Conference , SAGU looks to continue their winning ways. They return a veteran team, with three All-Conference First Teamers and all five of their award winners from 2012.

The Purple Pride finished 18-17, tying for fifth in the RRAC. It was a year that saw a resilient squad overcome a 1-8 start with a furious 12-1 recovery! Ten wins on their home court was equaled only by St. Thomas.

This fall they take on the Sooner Athletic Conference, who, like the Red River, had five teams with winning records a year ago.

Sixteen of their thirty matches pit the Lady Lions against SAC teams.

Coach Moore’s unit will be led by senior setter Taylor Calverley (Mansfield, Tx / Grace Prep), junior outside hitter Jessica Sodich (Arlington, Tx / Ovilla Christian) and senior middle hitter Kassy Cox (Lufkin, Tx / Lufkin HS).

They will face 17 teams this autumn that produced winning seasons a year ago.

Sodich was the MVP, leading the team in kills as well as digs. Her 4.2 kills per game ranked No. 9 in the nation.

Calverley was named the Setter of the Year in the RRAC. At 10.2 assists per game, she ranked No. 23 in the NAIA.

The entire schedule, with match location and starting times, are posted on-line at https://www.sagu.edu/athletics/volleyball

The club opens on Monday, August 26, in Marshall, Texas against Wiley College . The Wildcats have won the last three meetings with SAGU. Fans can expect long volleys and all-out effort whenever these league titans clash.

Rivals, they have gone the distance (five games) in five of their last ten encounters.

Last November in Waxahachie, SAGU took the first two sets, 27-25 and 25-17. Wiley bounced back to reel-off three straight; 25-14, 25-15 and 15-13.

What follows are back-to-back tournaments in which they play four matches in 24 hours at both events.

In Sherman, Texas they participate in an annual venue at Austin College , a perennial NCAA Division 3 power.

A week later in Salina, Kansas the Lady Lions are entered at Kansas Wesleyan University ’s tourney.

The two occasions will help define the team’s rotation, build teamwork and lay the foundation for the year. Of the tourneys eight opponents, only three of them had winning seasons in 2012.

SAGU begins with nine consecutive matches on the road before their home debut against a familiar foe. Mid-America Christian University (18-16) visits Waxahachie on Tuesday, September 17.

Before they play again in the Sheaffer Center (capacity: 1,200) a week later against Wiley, they take to the road for three in-a-row in Oklahoma.

With an experienced team and eight of their first 13 matches against teams under .500, the Lady Lions will have an opportunity to establish some momentum heading into the heart of their schedule.

The Purple Pride’s remaining 17 matches include 12 winning clubs.

Fortunately for Coach Moore, his teams prove to be very tough in the friendly confines of the Sheaffer Center. Ten of those 17 matches will be in front of their boisterous home fans.

Overall, the combined mark of the 2012 opponents is 518-501, a .508 winning percentage.

SAGU fans can witness several formidable foes. Seven of the eleven home dates are against winning teams. They are all can’t miss matches;

Sept. 17 – MACU (18-16)
Sept. 24 – Wiley College (22-8)
Sept. 27 – University of St. Thomas (19-17)
Sept. 28 – John Brown University (22-16)
Oct. 5 – No. 36 ranked Wayland Baptist University (19-15)
Oct. 10 – Texas Wesleyan University (19-15)
October 22 – No. 5 ranked Oklahoma Baptist University (35-6)

SAGU Sports Live will again broadcast select home matches, all in high definition. Last season they aired six of the nine at home. An official announcement regarding their livestream itinerary will come later this summer.

LiveStats , a digital play-by-play of all home dates as well as many road matches, will also be available.

The Lady Lions will report to preseason camp on Monday, Aug. 12.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde , SAGU Sports Information Director, at [email protected] or at 469-658-2847.

2013 Schedule Overview

Date         Opponent (2012 W-L Record)

Aug. 26    @ Wiley College (Tx) (22-8)

Austin College Tournament
Sept. 6 Southwestern College (Tx) (24-12)
Sept. 6 University of Dallas (18-20)
Sept. 7 Austin College (24-14)
Sept. 7 Sul Ross State University (Tx) (3-19)

Kansas Wesleyan University Tournament
Sept. 13 University of St. Mary (Ks) (9-23)
Sept. 13 College of the Ozarks (Mo) (19-15)
Sept. 14 York College (Neb) (10-21)
Sept. 14 McPherson College (Ks) (9-27)

Sept. 17 Mid-America Christian University* (Ok) (18-16)
Sept. 19   @ St. Gregory’s University* (Ok) (12-15)
Sept. 20   @ Southern Nazarene University (Ok) (13-19)
Sept. 21   @ Southwestern Christian University* (Ok) (3-31)
Sept. 24 Wiley College (Tx) (22-8)
Sept. 26   @ Oklahoma Baptist University* (35-6)
Sept. 27 University of St. Thomas (Tx) (19-17)
Sept. 28 John Brown University* (Ark) (22-16)
Sept. 30   @ Oklahoma City University* (Ok) (15-22)

Oct. 5 Wayland Baptist University* (Tx) (19-15)
Oct. 8    @ University of Texas at Dallas (27-7)
Oct. 10 Texas Wesleyan University* (19-15)
Oct. 11 Southwestern Christian University* (Ok) (3-31)
Oct. 12 Southern Nazarene University (Ok) (13-19)
Oct. 14   @ Mid-America Christian University* (Ok) (18-16)
Oct. 18 St. Gregory’s University* (Ok) (12-15)
Oct. 22 Oklahoma Baptist University* (35-6)
Oct. 26   @ John Brown University* (Ark) (22-16)
Oct. 29 Oklahoma City University* (Ok) (15-22)

Nov. 1   @ Wayland Baptist University* (Tx) (19-15)
Nov. 8   @ Texas Wesleyan University* (19-15)

Nov. 14-16 S.A.C. Tournament

*Sooner Athletic Conference games