By Michael Freeman, Assistant Sports Editor
The ACU volleyball team will have a chance to pick up its first win of the season Friday and Saturday at the Alamo City Invitational in San Antonio. After last week’s Florida Southern Invitational, the Wildcats are 0-4 on the season. ACU is looking to bounce back as it plays three in-state teams this weekend.
“It should be an opportunity for us to focus more on our side of the net,” said head coach Kellen Mock.
Unforced errors in serving and receiving played a critical role in the Wildcats’ first four matches. The team worked in practice this past week at reducing those errors and learned from last week’s losses to Florida Southern and Hillsdale College, nationally ranked No. 5 and No. 10 respectively.
“I think our girls have really been tested,” Mock said. “They’ve come out of the tournament with a good attitude, and they’re striving to get better at the things we’re struggling with.”
ACU begins the Alamo City Invitational on Friday at 7 p.m. against Incarnate Word. Incarnate Word finished last season with a record of 9-23, but coach Mock said she expects the match to still be competitive. Incarnate Word is 2-3 this year and has already downed Eastern New Mexico, a Lone Star Conference rival of ACU’s.
Saturday, the Wildcats are scheduled to take on Trinity at 2 p.m. The Trinity Tigers are ranked No. 7 nationally in Division-III volleyball. Last season, Trinity reached the quarterfinals of the national tournament and owned a record of 34-7. Later at 6 p.m., ACU will get a look at Texas A&M International. Texas A&M International entered the Heartland Conference last season and is now a regional opponent to ACU.
“The scariest opponent is actually the Division-III school, Trinity University,” Mock said. “They are an excellent volleyball team. They’re pretty much the best D-III in Texas.”
Last week’s tough tournament in Florida should be good preparation for this weekend’s three competitive matches, Mock said.
“I think all three present a big threat in different ways,” Mock said. “We’re going to have to focus on doing our best to present the best line of attack.”
