By Brian Roe, Sports Writer
ACU followed up its successful 3-1 weekend at the Texas A&M-Commerce Invitational with a 3-0 sweep of Lubbock Christian Tuesday in Moody Coliseum.
The Wildcats (11-5) rocked LCU with scores of 30-23, 30-23 and 30-28.
“We came out strong in the first game but I feel like we let our level play slip down to our opponent,” ACU coach Brek Horn said. “We came out slow in Game 3. I’m pleased with the win, but I feel like we are a more talented team than we were tonight.”
Sophomore outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt led the Wildcats with 24 kills, while sophomore setter Lindsey Martin had 12 digs and sophomore middle blocker Amanda Slate had six blocks in the Lubbock Christian victory.
The win follows a weekend in which Harding stopped ACU’s five-game win streak with a 3-2 win but ACU rallied to win its final three matches.
ACU beat Southern Arkansas in its other match Friday and added two easy victories over Henderson State and Central Arkansas Saturday.
Sophomore setter Lindsey Martin had 146 assists, 39 digs and seven kills in the four matches, while sophomore middle blocker Amanda Slate had 43 kills and 19 digs in the invitational.
Martin said the team did a good job of bouncing back from the loss to Harding.
“I feel that we rebounded pretty quickly and soundly from the loss against Harding,” Martin said. “We came back and played a consistent and sound match against a pretty decent team. We were not going to let another match go to five games, much less let ourselves relax in the middle of an intense match.”
Sophomore outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt led the Wildcats with 59 kills and 49 digs during the weekend.
Martin said the team has been playing well so far this season.
“Our level of play last season compared to this season definitely has stepped up a level,” Martin said. “We are doing a lot of things right. When we stay in the match mentally we perform awesome. We are trying to play the game where every point is urgent.”
ACU will play this weekend in Wichita Falls at the LSC Crossover Tournament. Martin said the team is doing well, but needs to keep working on communication.
As for the team, we need to talk more,” said Martin. “We need to increase the level of communication a whole lot during the play, not just in between. Communicating in our sport makes all the difference in the world.”
