By Brian Roe, Sports Writer
ACU had its nine-match winning streak snapped this weekend after losing to St. Mary’s on Saturday in San Antonio.
ACU opened the weekend by easily defeating Incarnate Word in a three-game sweep.
ACU won the first game 30-25, overcame a nine-point lead to win the second game 30-24 and finished the Lady Crusaders off 30-24 in the final game of the match.
Sophomore setter Lindsey Martin led the way for ACU recording 36 assists in the match and sophomore outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt was the only player in the match to record double-figure kills with 13.
Senior outside hitter Haylee Hartline also recorded nine kills and had three blocks. Junior libero Kellen Morrow led ACU with 16 digs.
Morrow said the team played well overall.
“It was our ninth win in a row and we played an up and down game but ended up winning,” Morrow said.
On Saturday, ACU faced St. Mary’s for the first time this season. The Wildcats won the first two games of the match only to drop three straight and lose 23-30, 28-30, 30-22, 30-25, 15-12 ending the weekend on a sour note.
Junior rightside hitter Sophia Kindred led ACU will 19 kills. Sophomore middle blocker Amanda Slate had 14 kills and Bernhardt had 16. Martin also recorded 55 assists in the losing effort.
Morrow, who added 12 digs in the loss to St. Mary’s, said several things were learned from the match.
“We are good about going into someone else’s gym and getting a quick start,” Morrow said. “It is just so frustrating to be up two games on the road and then come away with the loss.”
Morrow said the team has great chemistry but needs to enhance communication in close matches like the one against St. Mary’s.
“The chemistry is there, but we tend to breakdown in communication and that can paralyze us on the court,” she said. “We need to talk to each other more and stay focused to overcome that.”
The Wildcats will open conference match play this weekend with back-to-back matches against Eastern New Mexico on Friday at 7 p.m. and against West Texas A&M on Saturday at 2 p.m. Both matches will be played in Moody Coliseum.
