By Brian Roe, Sports Writer
The ACU Wildcats went on the road last week and won a pair of conference matches to finish the first half of Lone Star Conference South Division tied for first place atop the standings at 4-1 with West Texas A&M.
The Wildcats (20-7 overall) began their road trip with a 28-30, 30-22, 30-21, 30-27 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday.
Sophomore outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt led the way for ACU with 26 kills and 11 digs against the Lady Javelinas. Senior outside hitter Haylee Hartline had 12 kills, and sophomore middle blocker Amanda Slate added 10 kills.
Freshman setter Malia Plumlee, who is still filling in for injured setter sophomore Lindsey Martin, also had 19 assists in the contest. Martin is expected to return from injury this week.
ACU next took its winning ways to Stephenville to face Tarleton State on Saturday. The Wildcats dominated the match, beating the TexAnns in three straight sets 30-24, 30-22, 30-21. Hartline recorded 14 kills and Bernhardt added 11 kills in the match, which gives her 462 kills this season.
“I was pleased with the wins,” said head coach Brek Horn. “It is very hard to drive that far and be successful on the court. We were able to beat two tough teams at their home court. I hope that we continue to compete on the road. We have to win on the road if we want to qualify for the conference tournament.”
ACU hit .273 as a team against Kingsville, and followed that up with an impressive .353 hitting percentage in the sweep of Tarleton State.
The Wildcats have won eight of their last 10 games to improve their record to 20-7. The 2003 season is one of only 11 seasons in the 33-year history of ACU volleyball which the team won 20 games or more. Horn has three of the 11 twenty-win seasons posting 23 wins in 1999, 29 wins in 2000 and 20 wins already this season.
“When the coaches make practice so tough, then the matches are easy,” Horn said. “I know that that is part of the reason that we are having a great year. We are playing every point to win and we try to push for every point and not be passive at any time in the match. Last year’s experience from conference has helped us to know the importance of each and every match that you compete.”
The Wildcats played in Moody Coliseum on Tuesday against Incarnate Word in a non-conference match. On Thursday, ACU will travel to San Angelo to play Angelo State for the second consecutive week. The match begins at 7 p.m. Last week the Wildcats defeated Angelo State in four games in Moody Coliseum.
