By Michael Freeman, Assistant Sports Editor
Nearly 500 fans streamed over from Shotwell Stadium after the Homecoming football game to Moody Coliseum to watch the ACU volleyball team bash Texas Woman’s in three games Saturday night.
The Wildcats hit the .500 mark with the win as its record improved to 11-11 overall and 6-2 in the Lone Star Conference. The Texas Woman’s Pioneers fell to 13-10 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
“I think that our girls were ready to prove to themselves and prove to me and prove to ACU that we’re a fun team to watch,” said head coach Kellen Mock. “We’re just as fun as watching football.”
ACU defeated Texas Woman’s in a hurry as the Wildcats took the match in only one hour and 13 minutes. ACU won 30-13, 30-24, 30-22, and posted a team hitting percentage of .371, while the Pioneers only hit for .067 as a team.
“It was great to play at home during Homecoming weekend and come out with a win,” Mock said.
Senior outside hitter Abbie Lowry recorded a double-double as she led the Wildcats in kills with 18, while racking up 10 digs as well. Lowry reached her double-double by recording a .417 hitting-percentage. Three other Wildcats posted a hitting percentage of more than .400, including sophomore middle blocker Krystine Cethoute who finished with 11 kills and five assists. Middle blockers Shawna Hines and Lauren Leone were the other players who hit over .400 as they ended the match with eight and nine kills respectively.
“Everyone was fired up to get out there,” Lowry said. “We could tell from this morning at 9 o’clock when we were at the parade that we were ready for the game.”
Hines and Leone also finished with 2.5 blocks each. ACU had nine total blocks, while Texas Woman’s only had four. ACU outperformed Texas Woman’s in more than just the blocks category. Freshman setter Ijeoma Moronu led all players with 42 assists, and sophomore libero Amy Wilson topped everyone in digs with 14.
“We’ve been calling these girls to go above and beyond all of the time,” Mock said. “I’m really proud of the way they played and the way they accepted the challenge. This was a different setup for us playing at 7 p.m. after football. They accepted the challenge and took charge.”
ACU travels to Weatherford, Okla., for its next match against the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs on Thursday. Southwestern is 10- 18 overall with a 2-6 conference record. The Bulldogs are coming off a 3-1 loss to West Texas A&M on Saturday.
