By Michael Freeman, Assistant Sports Editor
The Wildcat volleyball team got back on the winning track Thursday night after beating Angelo State in three games in Moody Coliseum. The Wildcats now own a 9-11 overall record with a 4-2 record in Lone Star Conference play. Angelo State dropped to 6-15 overall and 4-2 in the conference.
“The Angelo match was really fun because I felt like we showed good all-around play,” head coach Kellen Mock said. The Wildcats dominated the match by racking up a team hitting- percentage of .200, while Angelo State hit at only .071 percent as a team. The Wildcats’ efficient play gave ACU a 30-16, 30-25, 30-23 victory. The win marked the fifth time this season ACU has posted a three-game win.
“I thought we played a really great match,” Mock said. “Especially in games one and three, we played excellent volleyball. And it was nice to come home and play like that because that was the caliber of volleyball we were playing at Washburn.”
Previous to Thursday’s win, ACU dropped three straight matches to nationally ranked teams at the Lady Blues Fall Classic hosted by Washburn University. Despite losing three matches, the Wildcats played well, and continued its excellent play into Thursday’s match.
Sophomore middle blocker Krystine Cethoute finished the match with 14 kills. Senior outside hitter Abbie Lowry also finished in double-digits with 12 kills. Freshman setter Ijeoma Moronu posted a double- double of 31 assists and 12 digs. Another freshman, middle blocker Shawna Hines, ended the match with a matchhigh 4.5 blocks.
“There’s a lot of pride in playing teams in our conference and really working to be the very best in our conference,” Mock said. “What really matters is what you produce in the conference and what you can do towards your postseason play. We’re not out of anything yet.”
The Wildcats’ next opponent is conference rival Texas A&M-Commerce. The Texas A&M-Commerce Lions are 8-14 overall and 2-5 in the LSC, and are coming off a four-game loss to No. 16 West Texas A&M on Saturday. ACU will get its shot at the Lions this Thursday in Moody Coliseum at 7 p.m.
