Box Score vs. Wichita State | Box Score vs. NMS | Box Score vs. TAMU
The Wildcats traveled to College Station this weekend to take on Wichita State, New Mexico State, and Texas A&M. Although the team fell to 0-6 on the year with losses to all three opponents, ACU showed a lot of promise against the tough non-conference opponents.
In a game televised on the SEC Network, the Wildcats gave the Texas A&M Aggies a legitimate scare. After dropping the first to sets, 14-25 and 21-25, ACU roared back in the third set, fighting off four straight match points to eventually capture the set 28-26. The momentum continued to flow the Wildcats’ way early on in the fourth set when they jumped out to leads of 5-1 and 10-6, but after an Aggie time out the momentum began to shift back to Texas A&M, who would finish the game 19-11 run to take the set and the match.
Senior hitter Jennie Loerch led both teams with 20 kills followed by freshman Jacey Smith with six. Senior setter Sarah Siemens also picked up her second double-double of the day, recording a game-high 33 assists with 10 digs, while senior libero Madison Hoover and freshman libero Lillian Drever posted 14 and 13 digs respectively.
Earlier that morning the Wildcats fell to the Aggies of New Mexico State in straight sets, 21-25, 12-25, and 20-25. New Mexico State, who played Texas A&M Sunday afternoon in the weekend’s final match, posted seven aces and 47 kills against the Wildcats on their way to win number five this season.
The Wildcats attack was again led by Loerch with 11 kills along with Lexi Mercier, six. Sophomore middle blocker Corinne Grandcolas recorded ACU’s only two aces of the game, as Siemens collected another double-double with 24 assists and 10 digs.
In the first game of the weekend ACU struggled to find their rhythm, losing by scores of 17-25, 12-25, and 21-25 to Wichita State. Statistically the match would be the worst of the weekend for the Wildcats as they totaled 16 errors and .104 hitting percentage, although the match was still a significant improvement from a week ago.
ACU was led offensively by freshman Kendall Bosse with seven kills and Lauren Walker with six, while Drever anchored the Wildcats defensively with 12 digs. Siemens was outstanding again barely missing her third double-double in as many games as she finished the match with 21 assists and 9 digs.
With College Station in the past, the Wildcats are now halfway through their non-conference schedule, and will have a quick turnaround as they travel to Arlington to take on Coach Jason Bibler‘s former team, University of Texas-Arlington Sept. 8.
