Wildcats looking to remain perfect
ACU trying to run LSC Crossover Tournament mark to 12-0
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SAN ANGELO -- ACU will try to maintain its perfect record in the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament this weekend when it joins the rest of the conference teams at this year's version of the tournament at the Junell Center on the campus of Angelo State University.
The Wildcats are 9-0 in three previous tournaments, and have only had one match - 2000 at home against Central Oklahoma - go to five games. ACU will get this year's tournament started Friday with a 10 a.m. match against Southeastern Oklahoma State, followed by a 5:30 p.m. match against Central Oklahoma. The Wildcats will conclude the tournament Saturday at 12:30 p.m. match against Cameron.
ACU is 9-8 overall and 2-3 in the LSC South Division after Tuesday night's disappointing five-game loss at Angelo State. The loss drops the Wildcats into a fourth-place tie in the division with Texas A&M-Kingsville.
In 2000, ACU went 6-0 in two crossover tournaments, beating Cameron, Texas Woman's, Texas A&M-Commerce, Central Oklahoma, Midwestern State and Southeastern Oklahoma. Then last year, ACU was 3-0 with wins over Texas Woman's, Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce.
"There is obviously a rivalry between the two divisions ... at least I feel like there is," ACU head coach Brek Horn said. "Every year we try to go to the tournament and prove that the South is stronger than the North, and we take some sense of pride in that."
ACU's task of remaining unbeaten won't be easy this week because it plays against the top two teams -- Central Oklahoma and Cameron, respectively -- in the LSC North.
The Lady Bronchos of UCO are 15-2 overall and 5-0 in the division, while Cameron is 8-6 and 3-2. UCO is led by outside hitter Alma Brahimaj, an all-America candidate who leads the league with 285 kills (4.91 per game). UCO's Lexy Fortner has 223 kills to give the Lady Bronchos a potent 1-2 punch.
Cameron's Kelsey Kosick leads the Lady Aggies with 228 kills (4.85 per game), while her teammate, Megan Smith, is fourth in the LSC in assists per game at 11.15.
ACU's other opponent in the tournament -- Southeastern Oklahoma -- is in the LSC North Division cellar at 3-10 overall and 0-4 in LSC play. The Lady Savages are led by setter Audrey Kelly, who is averaging 7.35 assists per game.
Despite the quality of the opponents in ACU's last two matches of the tournament, Horn's team still only has one goal heading to the tournament: go 3-0.
"I was pleased with the way we played last weekend," Horn said of her team's sweep of Texas A&M-Kingsville and Tarleton State. "Before our match (against Angelo State), my feeling was to go out and take control of these matches and dominate those teams. I still think we can do that; we just have to get re-focused. If we can concentrate for an entire match, we'll be fine."
ACU continues to be led by freshman outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt, who has a team-high 265 kills (4.2 per game) to go along with 129 digs (fourth on team). Junior outside hitter Haylee Hartline is second on the team in kills with 241 (3.83 per game) and fifth on the team with 119 digs.
Redshirt freshman setter Lindsey Martin -- who was named the LSC South Division Setter of the Week on Monday -- has 733 assists (12.02 per game), the highest total in the LSC.
After the crossover tournament, ACU will play three road matches next week -- Tuesday night at Midwestern State, followed by a Friday-Saturday weekend trip to San Antonio and Austin to play St. Mary's and St. Edward's, respectively. The Wildcats -- who have played only three home matches all season -- won't return to Moody Coliseum until Oct. 15 when they take on Angelo State in an LSC South Division match. That match begins a seven-match homestand for the Wildcats, who won't play on the road again until Nov. 7.
