ACU runs winning streak to 7 straight
Wildcats KO TWU, MSU, TAMC at crossover tourney
WICHITA FALLS -- ACU sophomore outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt continued her stellar play over the weekend, leading the Wildcats to a perfect 3-0 record at the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament and helping ACU extend its winning streak to seven straight matches.
The Wildcats were forced to rally from two games down against Texas Woman's in their first match of the tournament, but won the match in five games, 26-30, 13-30, 30-19, 30-20, 16-14. ACU beat Midwestern State (30-27, 30-26, 30-19) and Texas A&M-Commerce (30-24, 30-18, 30-21) in three straight games in their final two matches of the tournament.
Bernhardt -- last week's LSC South Division Hitter of the Week -- played spectacular volleyball all weekend, racking up 52 kills and a .317 hitting percentage in the three matches. She had 21 kills in the match against TWU, and then had 18 more kills and a .500 hitting percentage in the match against Midwestern State. She finished the tournament with 13 kills against Texas A&M-Commerce.
ACU had to rally in the first match against a TWU team that entered the match with just two wins on the season against 12 losses. But the Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead, thanks in part to an ACU team that hit a combined .041 in the first two games. But the Wildcats battled back, thanks in part to Bernhardt, senior outside hitter Haylee Hartline (18 kills), junior middle blocker Sophia Kindred (14 kills), sophomore middle blocker Amanda Slate (14 kills), sophomore setter Lindsey Martin (60 assists and 13 digs) and junior libero Kellen Morrow (30 digs).
ACU got the match tied with wins in games three and four before finally pulling the match out with a 16-14 win in game five. TWU contributed to ACU's win in game five by hitting .000 in the fifth game.
The Wildcats, though, cruised in the final two matches of the tournament, including coming up with a big win Friday night over Midwestern State in its own arena (D.L. Ligon Coliseum). The Wildcats hit .257 in the match, led by Bernhardt's .500 hitting percentage and Martin's 43 assists.
The Wildcats had little trouble with Texas A&M-Commerce in their final match of the tournament, knocking off the Lady Lions in three games and hitting .262 in the process. Bernhardt had 13 kills, while Slate had 12 kills and Hartline 10. Martin had 42 assists to give her 145 in the three games of the tournament.
