With five games left this season, the volleyball team is packing up for yet another road trip which will start with a rematch against Incarnate Word.
The Wildcats (6-18, 6-5) took care of the Cardinals in four sets during their visit to Moody earlier this season. ACU used a season-high 11 service aces, four of which were converted by senior Madison Hoover, to clinch the victory.
Initially the game was controlled by Incarnate Word, who squeaked out a two-point win in the first set. At the time the lost set was ACU’s fourth straight set they came up short in.
However, a quick turnaround by the Wildcats in game two tied the match at 1-1. ACU would go on to win the next two sets to clinch their second victory of the season 28-26 and 29-27.
The win broke a series of four straight losses to the Cardinals and ignited a five-game home winning streak, a streak broken on Monday night when ACU was upset by Nicholls State in four sets.
The match was arguably the Wildcats toughest loss of the season emotionally and statistically as they hit just .120 over the span of the match. Despite the hitting woes, senior Jennie Loerch did manage to set a career-high with 24 kills, adding 12 digs to complete the double-double.
Meanwhile, Incarnate Word (7-13, 5-6) has won three straight matches and sit just behind ACU in the Southland Conference standings after knocking off McNeese State 3-2 on Tuesday. Incarnate Word boasts an identical home record to the Wildcats at 6-2, with their only losses coming to Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State.
The match against ACU on Halloween will cap a four-game road trip for the Cardinals, as a win would tie them with the Wildcats for fifth in the conference.
For ACU, Saturday’s matchup will be one of four rematches they end the season with. McNeese State is the only team left on the Wildcats’ slate they have not played against.
The Wildcats will be looking for their first road win of the season when they take the court against Incarnate Word.