By Jared Fields, Sports Editor
Once the Wildcats jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the first game of Saturday’s LSC championship match against Central Oklahoma, the team knew the match was over.
“That first 10-point run just killed them,” said senior middle blocker Amanda Slate. “We got rid of their momentum, and they had nothing left; we took it from there.”
The Wildcats swept the Bronchos in three games: 30-12, 30-19, 30-19. The win gives ACU an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Southwest Region tournament, which will be in Kearney, Neb., on Nov. 18-20.
The Wildcats’ first match will be Friday at noon against Central Oklahoma. If the team wins, the second round game is Saturday at 5 p.m., and the regional final is Sunday at 3 p.m.
“I think if we’ll get that first win under our belt, even a first game win under out belt, then everything will be fine,” said head coach Brek Horn.
Nebraska-Kearney, the school playing host to the regional tournament and the No. 1 seed, is currently the No. 1 team in the country, according the latest AVCA top 25 poll. ACU enters as the third seed in the region behind No. 2 seed Metropolitan State, which beat the Wildcats in August at the Tampa Classic.
Michele Bernhardt was named tournament MVP after Saturday’s game. She led the team with 29 kills in the two games and hit .469 in the Central Oklahoma game. Bernhardt added 11 digs and six service aces.
“Just sitting there getting introduced was a blast,” Bernhardt said after the game. “I think we got real excited, and after that you can’t stop us.”
Slate, who was named to the all-tournament first team, had 12 kills in the win over the Bronchos and hit a team-high .500 in the game. As a team, the Wildcats hit .342 in the game.
Senior setter Lindsey Martin and sophomore outside hitter Abbie Lowry were also named to the all-tournament team after the team celebrated its second straight Lone Star Conference Tournament championship.
On Monday, conference officials released LSC all-conference teams. ACU placed five players on South Division teams and won three other special awards.
Slate led the list by South Division Player of the Year and being a first team selection. Bernhardt and Martin were right behind Slate in votes, gaining the second and third most votes, respectively.
Senior rightside hitter Ashlee Motola was the fourth Wildcat selected to the first team. Abbie Lowry was named to the second team after receiving honorable mention last year as a freshman.
Seventh year coach Brek Horn was named LSC South Division Coach of the Year for the second time in her career. The previous time was during the 2003 season.
Rounding out conference awards for the Wildcats was freshman middle blocker Lauren Leone, who was named the South Division’s Freshman of the Year. The last time the Wildcats had a player earn that honor was in 1998 when Lindsay DeHoff earned the honor.
Saturday’s match marked the last match for four seniors, Slate, Bernhardt, Martin and Motola, in Moody Coliseum.
“I’m not sad because we’re not done,” Slate said about playing her final match in front of the fans in Moody. “What I’m excited about is that we still have a long way to go. We’re not close to being done.”
That sentiment is echoed by Horn, who said she feels like everything is in the Wildcats favor.
“Confidence is really high right now, with me, with the team,” Horn said. “I’m just real pleased with how everything’s going.”
