ACU runs Moody streak to 24
9/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
ACU knocks off UCO, 3-1
Wildcats run Moody winning streak to 24 matches
ABILENE -- Michelle Bernhard led four ACU players in double figures in kills Friday night as the Wildcats ran their home court winning streak to 24 matches with a tougher-than-it-sounds four-game win over Central Oklahoma in the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament.
The Wildcats -- who are ranked No. 16 in the nation in NCAA Division II volleyball -- won their eight straight match to improve to 8-3 overall. UCO, meanwhile, dropped both of its matches Friday to fall to 9-6 on the season.
ACU won the first two games 30-21 and 30-24 before dropping the third game, 30-26. The Wildcats, however, put the finishing touches on the victory in the fourth game, 30-22. The Wildcats have now won 24 straight matches at Moody Coliseum, and haven't lost at home since Oct. 11, 2003. The Wildcats will play twice on Saturday in the tournament, a 1 p.m. match against Southeastern Oklahoma State and a 5 p.m. match against Midwestern State.
Bernhardt -- ACU's all-time leader in kills -- racked up 24 kills in the match, using a variety of different shots to get to 24. Senior middle blocker Amanda Slate added 19 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Abbie Lowry had 16 and senior rightside hitter Ashlee Motola had 14. Senior setter Lindsey Martin had 62 assists, while sophomore libero Liz Snoddy led the Wildcats with a career-high 29 digs.
ACU fell behind early in the first two games, trailing 5-1 in the first game and 4-1 in the second game before rallying to win both games. The third game was tied 24-24 before the Lady Bronchos reeled off four of the next six points to take a 28-26 lead. Leading 29-26, the Lady Bronchos won the game on a service error by Lowry and a ballhandling error by ACU freshman Jessica Reyna.
But the Wildcats put the match away with a big run midway through the fourth game. ACU led 7-6 before scoring nine of the next 12 points to take a 16-9 lead. The Wildcats took advantage of five UCO errors in the run. ACU's fourth-game lead grew to as much as 25-17, and the Lady Bronchos could get no closer from that point.
Saturday's tournament action gets started at 9 a.m. with matches between West Texas A&M and Southeastern Oklahoma State and Angelo State and Texas Woman's.
Here are Friday's other scores from the tournament:
Texas A&M-Kingsville def. Central Oklahoma, 3-0
West Texas A&M def. Midwestern State, 3-0
Texas A&M-Kingsville def. Southeastern Oklahoma State, 3-0
Abilene Christian def. Central Oklahoma, 3-1
Eastern New Mexico def. SW Oklahoma State, 3-0
Cameron def. Angelo State, 3-2
Eastern New Mexico def. Texas Woman's, 3-2
Tarleton State def. SW Oklahoma State, 3-0
