The ACU volleyball team will head to Nacogdoches this Saturday to take on SFA for their fourth conference game.
The Wildcats will enter the game winless in conference (0-2) after coming off a five-set loss against Incarnate Word Thursday. The Ladyjacks are currently undefeated (2-0) in conference after defeating McNeese State Saturday.
ACU lost their first two games in five long sets. They dropped their first Southland match to Central Arkansas (22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20 and 15-12) and then to Incarnate Word (20-25, 26-24, 26-24, 14-25 and 15-8).
“Right now we are struggling with finishing off sets and matches,” said Jason Bibler, head coach. ” We are close and closer than we were a month ago, but we have to keep focusing and trying to get better.”
The Wildcats’ offense has been primarily led by their outside hitters junior Jennie Loerch and freshman Stephanie Schoelman, both from Georgetown.
Loerch has played every match for the Wildcats hitting .152 and averaging 4.01 points per set. She was also named to the Hampton Inn Waco North Baylor Invitational All-Tournament Team at Baylor’s tournament earlier this season. Loerch also made the All-Tournament Team at Texas Tech’s Lone Star Showdown.
The Wildcats will have to play the rest of their season without Schoelman due to a torn ACL and MCL. The injury occurred in the last set against Central Arkansas during their first conference game. Schoelman had an impressive year hitting .108 and averaging 2.57 points per set. She is expected to be out for six months minimum.
ACU’s defense has been led by Madison Hoover, junior libero from Flower Mound, with 3.80 digs per set.
SFA’s captain caught the conference’s attention as OJ Olson, junior defensive specialist from Cedar Park, was just named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week Monday afternoon. This is Olson’s second time receiving the honor.
“We expect a good team coming at us and to take care of our side of the court,” said Brooke Ray, sophomore defensive specialist from Lucas. “We need to focus on executing our game plan and first ball side outs.”
The Ladyjack’s offense has been led by senior outside hitter Jill Ivy who recently hit .405 with 16 kills against McNeese State.
“SFA has some very athletic hitters,” Bibler said. “They are quick and terminate the ball really well. We will have to be on our best defensively in order to slow them down.”
The game is set to start 2 p.m.
