By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor
The ACU volleyball team dropped to second place in the LSC South after losing in three games to conference leaders West Texas A&M on Saturday.
“West Texas took advantage of our weaknesses,” said head coach Kellen Mock. “Anytime we were down defensively, they took advantage and we failed to do the same.”
ACU was unable to get rolling on offense throughout the match and lost 30-19, 30-24, 30-25 in Canyon. Outside hitter Abbie Lowry led the Wildcats with 12 kills and middle blocker Lauren Leone followed with 11 of her own, while setter Ericka Dickenson contributed 37 assists.
The Wildcats’ loss to the West Texas Lady Buffs dropped them to 4-1 in conference play and was their first since LSC play began. The Lady Buffs snapped ACU’s seven-match winning streak and 17-match LSC South Division winning streak that began in 2004. The win was WTAM’s first over ACU since the 2003 season, when they swept ACU in three games.
“We played well but we can play better for the second half of the season,” Mock said.
The loss was the Wildcats’ third game of the week and second on the road after defeating St. Edwards in four games and dominating Southeastern New Mexico in three games in Portales, N.M.
The Wildcats knocked off Eastern New Mexico 31-29, 30-19, 30-15 in their second straight road win over the Eastern New Mexico Zias. Prior to WTAM, the Zias were the last team to defeat the Wildcats on Oct. 21, 2004.
“Eastern New Mexico was the best match we played up to this point,” Mock said. “We really didn’t have any standouts we just played good team volleyball.”
Despite losing Saturday, Lowry was named LSC South offensive player of the week after finishing with 50 kills and 37 digs in the Wildcats’ 2-1 week. Dickenson was named LSC South setter of the week after finishing with 130 assists in the Wildcats’ three matches.
ACU’s has a week of rest before returning to action on Oct. 6-7 in Kingsville at the LSC Crossover Tournament when it takes on three LSC North Division teams in two days.
