After recording 10 kills and winning the first set 25-18 the Wildcats looked ready to claim their first victory of Southland Conference play and for the year. However, a late surge by the University of Central Arkansas held the Wildcats winless, as they fell in four sets to start Southland Conference play.

UCA came out strong in game two holding leads as big as six points, but the Wildcats wouldn’t go away quietly. After the Sugar Bears made the score 23-17, freshman Kendall Bosse converted a kill and Senior Madison Hoover contributed one of her two service aces to bring the score to 23-19.

ACU continued to fight back after a UCA timeout and after a point by senior setter Sarah Siemens and a miscue by the bears, what was once a six point lead was just two.

Then it was time for freshman Lauren Walker to step up. Walker, who had four total blocks on the evening to help lead the Wildcats, blocked a UCA attempt and then responded with another block to even the score at 24-24.

Unfortunately, a Sugar Bear’s timeout stifled ACU’s momentum and two consecutive points evened the match at one set apiece.

UCA carried the momentum into games three and four to finish off the Wildcats with scores of 25-12 and 25-17. ACU held a short-lived lead in game four at 15-13, but was outscored 12-2 the rest of the way.

The Wildcats continue Southland Conference action this Thursday against Northwestern State, in their conference and season home-opener.