The #24 Texas Wesleyan Rams squared off against the #4Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions in the finals of the SAC tournament in Waxahachie. SAGU was the top seed in the tournament, having won the regular season title, while the Rams were the number 2 seed. And in four sets, SAGU remained undefeated, winning the SAC tournament.
The 25-15, 25-18, 20-25, 25-17 loss puts the Rams' record at 26-6 overall, 18-2 in conference with SAGU remaining undefeated at 33-0 overall, 20-0 in conference. Both teams advance to the national tournament.
The Rams were outhit by the Lions with 42 kills to SAGU's 63. The Rams did log more service aces and more blocks than SAGU, but in the end, it was the undefeated Lions who used their front line, who hit. 214% to Texas Wesleyan's .114%, to keep their winning streak. Kendal King led the Rams with nine kills, while Grace Pavelka and Lauren Crismore added seven. Carly Unruh led all players with four blocks, while Pavelka and Sydney Alexander had three each. Ruby O'Brien recorded 30 assists in the game. O'Brien shared SAC setter of the year honors with SAGU's Riley Burcham. Andrea Malek, who was named SAC defensive player of the year, led the Ram defense once again with 36 digs, while Haley Harvey and O'Brien had 11 each.
In the first set, the teams would keep the game tight throughout, tying the game 11 times before SAGU took over at 13-12. From then on, the Lions capitalized on Ram attack errors to win 25-15.
In the second set, SAGU kept the momentum going to take an 11-5 lead before a Wesleyan timeout saw the Rams get some traction. The Rams were never able to pull within striking distance and SAGU took the second set 25-18.
The third set saw Texas Wesleyan once again started slow, but the Rams were able to bring the tie to 6-6 on a SAGU error. The Rams jumped out to a 10-6 lead before SAGU came back to life to bring the score to 11-10 behind back-to-back Emma Tompkins kills. Tompkins was named SAC MVP and attacker of the year. After that, the Rams never let the Lions get so close and finished out the game behind the hitting machines of Lauren Crismore and Kendal King.
In the fourth set, the Lions came out roaring and never looked back, leading the entire set. SAGU won the fourth set 25-17 and the match 3-1 to be crowned the regular season and tournament champions.
In addition, the Rams had two players named to the SAC All Tournament team, with Ruby O'Brien and Andrea Malek.
Both teams advance to the 48-team NAIA tournament as regular season winners and runners-up. The Rams, who finished the regular season and the SAC tournament as a runner-up and ranked No. 24 in the nation, will face Hastings College at Hastings, Nebraska on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the tournament. This is the 14th time the Rams have qualified for the national tournament, including a trip last year when Texas Wesleyan was crowned the SAC regular season champion. Hastings College enters the tournament at 19-13 with 14 appearances in the national tournament.
