After having a tough three-game Lone Star Conference road trip where the Wildcat volleyball team went 1-2, the ‘Cats have returned home to play two LSC games at Moody Coliseum. The second of these two games pits ACU against Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m.
The Wildcats are attempting to end a two-match losing streak. In these losses, ACU was the victim of consecutive five-set comebacks by the opponent (Texas Women’s University and University of the Incarnate Word).
Junior Kalynne Allen feels the upcoming games are especially important for the Wildcats.
“We’re excited more than anything because if we win the next two games it will be a huge confidence booster. I know we’re capable of winning. There is so much talent on this team. It’s just a matter of working out the kinks.”
“The last two losses have given us a determined attitude and lit a fire in several of the players.”
Sophomore Neely Borger believes the team needs to improve in several areas in order to win these two games.
“Honestly, we need to start coming together as a team. The past couple of weeks we’ve been focused on individual stuff. For us to improve we have to start playing together and talking more.”
Allen agreed that the ‘Cats need to play better.
“We’re learning to finish games. We have great skills. Piecing them together is what’s missing right now.”
In ACU’s first home game Sept. 13, the team kept Incarnate Word from mounting a comeback late. Senior Jennie Hutt put on a show, as she recorded the second highest single-match kill total in ACU history with 32.
The Wildcat’s regular season record is 7-6 and the team is 3-2 in the LSC conference. The ‘Cats are 2-2 when playing away from home and have played only one match in Moody (1-0).
Borger is ecstatic to finally have a couple of home games.
“I’m so happy to be playing in front of a home crowd. It’s always a breath of fresh air to play in front of our fans and get that extra confidence boost.”
Eastern New Mexico is 3-10 overall with only one win against conference teams (1-5). The Zias beat Texas A&M University-Kingsville in the West Texas A&M Tournament in Canyon. ENMU’s other two wins were versus Adams State College and Oklahoma Panhandle State University. The Wildcats defeated the Zias in one clash last season 3-2.
ACU ranks, as a team, among the top five squads in the conference in hitting percentage (4th, .200), kills (4th, 12.92), and assists (4th, 12.08). Hutt leads the LSC individually in kills (4.75 per set) and in points with 5.17 per set. Haley Rhoads ranks fourth in assists per set with 9.93.
ENMU ranks last in the LSC in hitting percentage (.079), assists (8.78 per set), and kills (10.04).
For regular-season home volleyball games, students, faculty, and staff can get into Moody Coliseum free of admission with a valid university-issued ID card. Children ages 12 and under can also be let in for free. Adult general admission tickets are $5.
