By Brian Roe, Sports Writer
The Wildcat volleyball team looks to extend its perfect conference record on Saturday when ACU travels to Canyon to play rival West Texas A&M.
ACU sits alone in first place in the Lone Star Conference South Division with a 20-6 record, including a perfect 5-0 record against division opponents. The Wildcats soundly beat the Lady Buffs on Sep. 30 in Moody Coliseum for a 30-19, 30-22, 30-22 three-game sweep. The victory was the first over West Texas A&M since October 1993.
“That was a nice victory but it’s always tough playing in their gym in front of 1,000 fans or so,” said ACU head coach Brek Horn. “I think we have the advantage having beaten them earlier this season. They are a little mad about it though.”
Now the Wildcats seek to knock the Lady Buffs completely out of the LSC South Division race. West Texas A&M – currently fourth in the LSC South behind ACU, Angelo State and Eastern New Mexico in that order – are in danger of missing the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament for the first time in Horn’s career at ACU.
The top-3 teams in the LSC South Division and LSC North Division advance to the Post-Season Tournament, which will be played at the home courts of the No. 1 seed in the North Division.
The Lady Buffs own a 2-3 record in the LSC South Division and another loss could handicap any attempt to advance past ACU, Angelo State or Eastern New Mexico.
ACU assistant coach Sarah Carthel – a former two-time NCAA Player of the Year for the Lady Buffs for helping them to a 1997 Division II National Championship before graduating from West Texas A&M in 2000 – said experience factors in the team’s lack of success this year.
“They are a really young team this year,” Carthel said. “Experience isn’t everything in volleyball but it is important.”
Senior middle blocker Sophia Kindred admits West Texas A&M is a rival team, but it’s not the only rivalry.
“I think we have more of a rivalry with Angelo State,” Kindred said.”
Horn said a lot of the rivalry in the LSC stems from the coaching staff. Horn, a 1996 graduate of Angelo State, joins Carthel as a former standout player in the LSC.
“It’s really about pride,” Horn explained. “Yes we have fond memories of playing at a particular school but when you come back in front of family and friends it makes you want to beat them even more.”
Another almost invisible factor in the rivalry between ACU and West Texas A&M is ACU standout Michelle Bernhardt. The junior outside hitter graduated from Hereford High School – about 20 miles away from Canyon – and was extensively recruited by the Lady Buffs.
Ultimately, Bernhardt decided to attend classes and kill volleyballs in the purple and white of ACU.
“People don’t understand it here, but when you were raised around West Texas A&M like Michelle was, WT volleyball is what you watched. Michelle grew up watching Sarah [Carthel] play,” Horn said. “Fortunately for us, Michelle chose to come to ACU over West Texas.”
Bernhardt, the pre-season pick for LSC player of the year, leads the Wildcats with 396 kills and is second on the team with 290 kills. ACU will look to Bernhardt to lead them in the charge against the Lady Buffs.
“Michelle actually plays better against WT. She’s handled the pressure very well,” Horn said.
The battle at Canyon begins 2 p.m. Saturday. After the match in Canyon, the Wildcats return to Abilene for a five-match home stand beginning 7 p.m. Thursday when ACU hosts Texas A&M-Kingsville.
