By Brian Roe, Sports Writer
ACU will finish its regular season at home this weekend with matches against Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The Wildcats, who are assured a spot in the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament, can claim the No. 2 seed with victories over the TexAnns and the Lady Javelinas.
West Texas A&M has wrapped up the LSC South Division title and the No. 1 seed from the South for the tournament, which will be played Nov. 13-15 in Canyon. Eastern New Mexico, currently second in the LSC South Division, finished division play at 7-3 with ACU sitting at 5-3. If the Wildcats win both matches this weekend, ACU will be the No. 2 seed because it won 5 of 8 games over Eastern New Mexico this season.
The Wildcats snapped a three-match losing streak on Tuesday night in Moody Coliseum with a 3-0 win over St. Mary’s, 30-23, 30-21, 30-20. ACU was led by sophomore Michelle Bernhardt who posted 15 kills in the contest. Senior Haylee Hartline added 14 kills, and sophomore Lindsey Martin had 47 assists.
Head coach Brek Horn said sophomore Amanda Slate also had a good game.
“Amanda had a long scoring streak,” Horn said. “We were down in the first game 17-19, and she served us back into the game. She was serving awesome. In volleyball, if you can score points with your serve, you will usually be successful, and that’s what we did.”
Horn said the Wildcats dominated the match by being consistent on offense and defense.
“We pretty much led the entire game,” she said. “I was pleased with our effort. It’s always more fun when you play well.”
ACU will play host to Tarleton State (8-25, 0-8) Friday at 7 p.m. and to Texas A&M-Kingsville (9-23, 2-6) Saturday at 1 p.m. Saturday’s match was scheduled originally for 2 p.m. but was moved back so it wouldn’t conflict with the ACU football game.
Senior Haylee Hartline will be honored at the game on Saturday. She is second on the team in kills with 423. Hartline is the only senior on the Wildcat volleyball team.
