By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer
Perfection is on the line this weekend, as the ACU volleyball team competes this weekend in the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament in San Angelo at the Junell Center.
The Wildcats are unbeaten in LSC Cross-over Tourna-ment history with a 9-0 overall record and opened play Friday at 10 a.m. against South-eastern Okla-homa State, followed at 5:30 p.m. against Central Okla-homa. The Wildcats also play 12:30 p.m. the following day against Cameron University.
In 2000, ACU was 6-0 in two crossovers, beating all three teams they play this weekend. Last season ACU went 3-0 over Texas Woman’s, Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce.
ACU is 9-8 overall, 2-3 in LSC South play after Tuesday’s frustrating five-game loss to Angelo State, dropping the Wildcats into a fourth-place tie in the LSC South with Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Freshman setter Lindsey Martin, who leads the LSC in total assists with 733, said Tuesday’s loss to Angelo State had little to do with the Rams.
“We beat ourselves,” said Martin, the LSC South Division Setter of the Week. “As long as we go in and play our own game and not play at the level of competition, we should come out on top.”
Freshman outside hitter Nicole Killebrew said the team has remained close despite the hardships of an up-and-down season.
“A big part of our team’s chemistry is that we all get along so good on and off the court,” Killebrew said. “We’re a young team, but we’re encouraging each other on and off the court and that chemistry and positiveness will take us very far.”
Central Oklahoma is 15-2 overall, 5-0 in LSC North play, led by LSC kills leader Alma Brahimaj. Cameron is 8-6 overall, 3-2 in LSC North play, with Kelsey Kosick and Megan Smith leading the way. Kosick leads Cameron with 228 kills, while Smith ranks fourth in the LSC in assists.
Southeastern Oklahoma is last in the LSC North at 3-10 and 0-4 in division play. Audrey Kelly leads the Lady Savages, av-eraging 7.35 as-sists per game.
The Wildcats play three road matches next weekend and won’t play at home until Oct. 15 when they take on Angelo State.
Redshirt freshman outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt said this season has been a true learning experience.
“We are young and inexperienced, but I think that is what is making it fun,” said Bern-hardt, who leads ACU with 265 kills. “We don’t get to relax and we have to take every practice and game as a chance to learn.”
