Volleyball dropped to 4-3 in conference play after falling to Houston Baptist Monday in Houston. The Wildcats kept the sets close throughout the back and forth game, even having a good lead in the second and third set, but were unable to take a set for themselves as the Huskies swept the Wildcats three sets to none.
ACU jumped out to a small early lead in the first set, but HBU was able to score a quick three points to tie the game at 8 a piece. The set went on a back and forth scoring until HBU started to break away after scoring four straight to bring the score to 18-15. ACU would try to get back in the game, but were unable to get any closer as the Huskies won the set 25-21 on a service error.
The Wildcats started off hot as they scored six of the first eight points and continued to slowly build their lead to as many as six with the score at 15-9. HBU was able to slowly chip away at ACU’s lead as they tied the set at 17-17 after a four-point run, and then took their first lead of the set after an attack error by the ‘Cats. But ACU would not go away as they took back the lead and had set point with a 24-22 lead, but could not get anything to go their way after this point as the Huskies came back and took the set 26-24.
After scoring only one out of the first five to begin set three, ACU was able to slowly get back in a rhythm and took the lead after a five-point spurt at 17-14. HBU was able to tie the game at 22 before ACU would score their last point of the set before the Huskies took the set with a 25-23 score.
Sophomore Jacey Smith led ACU with 10 kills and added eight digs on the night, while sophomore Lauren Walker finished the game with a team high six blocks and had eight kills. Freshman Makenzie Kesler was the leading assister for the Wildcats notching 20 on the stat sheet. Amanda Chapa had a game high 14 digs.
ACU outhit HBU as a team with a .194 compared to the Huskies’ .191 and out blocked them as well with 10 blocks to eight. But HBU was able to outperform the Wildcats at the service line as they had five aces and six errors on the night, as ACU had only three aces and committed 10 errors.
ACU is now 5-17 on the season and 4-3 in conference as they will be at home their next two games against Stephen F. Austin (12-7, 5-1) on Thursday and Sam Houston St. (9-10, 3-3) on Saturday.
