By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer

After losing a good majority of last season’s contributors, the ACU volleyball team gained a whole lot this past weekend: the first two wins of the new season.

The Wildcats posted wins over both Fort Lewis and Chadron State while dropping matches to both Southern Arkansas and Lone Star conference-rival Texas A&M-Commerce at the Texas Woman’s Tournament in Denton this past weekend to open the season with a 2-2 overall record.

Coach Brek Horn said she is being patient with her team.

“It’s going to take some time because we’re young and inexperienced,” Horn said. “My player’s efforts was what I wanted and I was pleased with our play even though we lost twice.”

The next opportunity the Wildcats have to add to their win total is this weekend when they travel to Orlando, Fla. to take part in the Rollins College Tournament.

Junior outside hitter Haylee Hartline was impressed with her younger teammate’s play in adverse conditions in Denton.

“We can’t be satisfied with going 2-2, but it was the first time we were out on the floor in a game situation,” Hartline said. “All the freshmen did so well for their first experience. It wasn’t really a surprise because you expect them to step up, but it was a pleasant surprise.”

Three true freshmen, including outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt, middle blocker Ashlee Motola and rightside hitter Amanda Slate, contributed, as well as redshirt freshman setter Lindsay Martin, who Hartline said stepped up tremendously.

Hartline said the team is working hard in practice this week to improve upon last weekend’s mistakes.

“We will be working a lot on serve receive and serving,” Hartline said. “We’ll be working on all the little things, but we just need to put them together.”