The Basics
Score: MNU 3 - Stephens 1
Record: MNU (2-0, 0-0), Stephens (0-1, 0-0)
Location: Columbia, Mo. - Silverthorne Arena
COLUMBIA, Mo. - MidAmerica Nazarene secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Stephens College in their season opener on August 22nd. After dropping a closely contested first set 26-24, the Pioneers roared back to take the next three sets 25-14, 25-15, and 25-21. MNU's dynamic offense, anchored by standout performances from Mia Olson and Avery Lowe, proved too much for Stephens to handle as the Pioneers finished strong to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
MNU's attack was led by Olson, who tallied 15 kills with an impressive .355 hitting percentage. Avery Lowe added 10 kills, while Katrina Davis facilitated the offense with 42 assists. Defensively, MNU recorded 68 total digs, highlighted by Emily Mathis, who collected 20 digs, while the team also combined for 10 total blocks.
Turning Point
The momentum shifted in the second set when MNU raced out to an 11-1 lead, capped by a kill from Isabella Munari. Stephens struggled to recover as MNU's relentless attack continued, pushing the Pioneers to a 25-14 victory in Set 2 and an overall match turnaround.
Individual Leaders
Up Next
The next match is a 3-game weekend in Columbia, Mo. vs. #1 Indiana Wesleyan, #7 Columbia, and #4 Concordia.
