The Wildcat volleyball team will try to test its luck Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1 in the sixth-annual Washburn Regional Crossover tournament.
The tournament takes place in Lee Arena on the campus of Washburn University in Topeka, KS. The ‘Cats will be up against four teams: University of Nebraska at Omaha, Washburn University, Emporia State University, and Truman State University.
Head coach Kellen Mock said the road ahead isn’t going to be easy.
“We’re facing four opponents this year that are perennial powerhouses. These are highly competitive squads both nationally and regionally.”
“It won’t be an easy weekend, but this gives us an opportunity to play the highest caliber teams we can get our hands on. The girls should grow and learn a lot from this.”
These are not the only teams competing however, this year there are 10 clubs and 20 matches spread out over two days.
The Wildcats first face Nebraska at Omaha on Friday at 2 p.m. Nebraska-Omaha is an NCAA DI school. The Mavericks are having a tough first season in DI. The team is 2-13 overall and has lost five in a row.
For the second match, ACU plays No.5 Washburn at 6:30 p.m. later that evening. The Lady Blues are playing stellar volleyball. Washburn has seen defeat only once this season (12-1).
ACU begins Saturday against another team in the AVCA DII Coaches Top 25 poll. Emporia State is ranked 25th with a 7-4 record.
The Wildcats will close out the tournament in Washburn at 3p.m. on Saturday versus Truman, who just recently dropped out of the AVCA DII Coaches Top 25 poll. The Bulldogs are 6-5 this season.
Freshman Haley Rhoads feels the Wildcats shouldn’t be worried about Friday and Saturday.
“We’re going in there thinking there’s nothing to lose so I feel like were going to do a good job, especially since our practices this week have more than prepared us for the upcoming tests.”
The ‘Cats’ season record is 8-7 (4-3 in the Lone Star Conference). ACU is hitting the road after splitting two home games with West Texas A&M University and Eastern New Mexico University.
The Wildcats are 7-9 combined versus its four opponents this weekend. Nebraska-Omaha, Washburn, Emporia, and Truman all have reached the regional and national spotlights.
ACU is 1-3 when facing Washburn, a club who spoiled the Wildcats’ chances of getting past the regional semifinals last year. The Lady Blues went on to reach the national championship, but lost to Central Missouri.
Emporia State also played Central Missouri in the 2010 regional tournament and was defeated. The ‘Cats are 4-2 against the Hornets. One of these victories was an exciting upset last year when ESU was ranked No. 11.
In the last five years, ACU has participate in the Washburn tournament twice. In 2010 the Wildcats went 3-1 losing only to, then No. 12, Truman State.
In 2007, the ‘Cats struggled in the tournament. It won one of four games. The three losses were to Washburn, Truman, and Emporia.
