Wildcats open regional vs. St. Edward's
ACU set to take on Lady Hilloppers in first round
KEARNEY, Neb. -- The ACU Wildcats begin their quest for their first NCAA Division II Southwest Region volleyball championship Friday when they take on St. Edward's in the tournament quarterfinals at the Health and Sports Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
The Wildcats (28-7 overall and seeded third in the tournament) will take on St. Edward's (23-14 and seeded sixth in the tournament) at noon Friday in the first match of the tournament. The match will also mark the Wildcats' first-ever match in regional play as ACU -- which on Saturday won its first Lone Star Conference volleyball title -- is making its first regional tournament appearance.
ACU is 2-0 this season against St. Edward's, which on Saturday won its second straight Heartland Conference Post-Season Tournament title. The Wildcats beat St. Edward's 3-0 in Austin on Sept. 21, and then beat the Lady Hilltoppers 3-0 on Oct. 12 in Abilene.
The Wildcats, in fact, are 5-2 against four other teams in the field: 2-0 vs. St. Edward's, 1-0 vs. eighth-seed Metropolitan State (Colo.), 2-1 vs. fifth-seeded Eastern New Mexico and 0-1 vs. second-seeded Fort Hays State (Kan.). With a win Friday over St. Edward's, the Wildcats would likely face Fort Hays State in Saturday's semifinals. The Lady Tigers beat ACU 3-0 in the Cal State-San Bernadino Tournament on Sept. 3.
ACU's matches in the tournament can be heard locally on KSLI 1280 AM, and on the internet at www.tsrnsports.com. For more information on the tournament, visit the official tournament Web site.
