Springfield, Mo. — September 6, 2025
The Mission University women's volleyball team gained valuable early-season experience this weekend, competing in three matches at the Evangel Quad Tournament. Though the Patriots came up short on the scoreboard, the event provided an opportunity to test themselves against strong competition and showcase flashes of growth.
Friday: Texas A&M–Texarkana 3, Mission 0
Mission opened tournament play against a talented Texas A&M–Texarkana squad. The Patriots battled in each set but ultimately fell in straight sets (25–17, 25–16, 25–9).
Offensively, Shelby Evans led the way with 3 kills, while Violet Kirkpatrick and Allie Czachowski each chipped in 3 kills apiece. Hannah Maxwell paced the team with 8 digs, while Rylea King added 7. Despite the setback, the Patriots showed resilience defensively, recording 34 digs as a unit.
Saturday Morning: Bethany 3, Mission 1
In their second match, the Patriots showed their strongest performance of the tournament, pushing Bethany College to four sets (25–17, 25–14, 21–25, 25–12). Mission picked up its first set win of the season behind improved offensive rhythm and strong individual efforts.
Sarah Purcell led the attack with 9 kills, hitting .190, while Hannah Maxwell (7 kills, 7 digs) and Allie Czachowski(7 kills, 9 digs) provided balance at the net. Violet Kirkpatrick also contributed 7 kills and 2 blocks. Defensively, Rylea King anchored the back row with 14 digs, and Karsyn Ryan added 11.
The highlight came in the third set, when Mission used aggressive serving and steady defense to pull away for a 25–21 win.
Saturday Afternoon: Evangel 3, Mission 0
The Patriots closed tournament play against host Evangel University, falling in three sets (25–17, 25–18, 25–15). Despite the sweep, Mission showed grit by extending rallies and forcing Evangel into long points.
Karsyn Ryan provided a spark with 5 kills and 12 digs, while Sarah Purcell added 7 kills and Shelby Evans tallied 4. Violet Kirkpatrick made her presence felt at the net with 3 blocks, and King once again steadied the defense with a team-high 14 digs.
Looking Ahead
Though Mission finished 0–3 at the Evangel Quad, the Patriots left the tournament with key takeaways and valuable on-court experience. Purcell and Ryan emerged as steady offensive options, while King's defensive play continues to anchor the back row.
Mission (2–7, 0–0 AMC) now looks ahead to its next matchup on September 9 against Grand View College in Lawrence, Kansas, as the Patriots continue to prepare for conference play.
Prayer Request
The Mission athletics family asks for prayers for #13 Kaitlyn Stafford, who was injured during the tournament. We pray for healing, strength, and a quick recovery for her in the days ahead.
