The Wildcat volleyball team will look to bump its record over .500 for the first time this season when it travels to Austin to participate in the St. Edward’s Invitational.
In the tournament, ACU will face off against Northwest Missouri State University, Dallas Baptist University, Missouri Southern State University, and the host, St. Edward’s University. Unlike last week’s tournament, the Wildcats will see some familiar jerseys on the other side of the net.
Last year, the ‘Cats played Dallas Baptist and Southern Missouri State and were successful against both, shutting them out in all three match-ups 3-0. This isn’t the first time ACU has seen St. Edward’s either – in the last four years the Wildcats have played St. Edward’s three times and won all three, dropping only one game.
Northwest will come in to its match-up against ACU in the same boat as the Wildcats. The Bearcats split their first four games and will try to get their season on track with a few wins this weekend.
None of the teams the WIldcats and Kellen Mock will see this weekend are nationally-ranked, but that doesn’t mean the a’Cats will take this tournament lightly.
“This tournament is a big deal for us,” said freshman Madelyn Robinett. “These games count towards our overall record and conference stadings and such.”
The Dallas Baptist Lady Patriots started the season off strong, going 3-1 in their opening tournament with their only loss coming against the nationally-ranked West Texas A&M University. The Lady Patriots lost their home opener earlier this week and now sit at 3-2 overall.
The Missouri Southern State Lions will come into the St. Edward’s Invitational with a swagger in their step after starting their season 4-0, having won all four games at the Quincy University Tournament. ACU will look to douse the flames of the red-hot Lions.
“We are pretty much going to have to go out there and play our game,” junior Jennie Hutt said. “Last weekend we focused on our side of the court, and this weekend we want to focus more on our opponent’s side of the court.”
The second-day nightcap will see the Wildcats take on host St. Edward’s. The Hilltoppers have already seen a big chunk of the Lone Star Conference in their four-game set last weekend, as they saw four different LSC teams and split the games with two wins and two losses.
These four games will be critical for the Wildcats with conference play looming on the horizon next week.
“This weekend is huge for us,” Hutt said. “Wins against regional opponents are a big deal, and we would love to come out of this weekend with four more wins.”
