WARRENSBURG, Mo. – It wasn't easy, but the ACU Wildcats survived a five-set thriller Thursday afternoon, eliminating Truman State (Mo.) 3-2 in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Central Region Volleyball Tournament at the Multipurpose Building on the Central Missouri campus.
Looking like a team on a mission to redeem themselves after an early exit in last week's Lone Star Conference Tournament. ACU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before the Lady Bulldogs got on the scoreboard.
Neely Borger knocked down a kill as she did a great job of working the cross court kill all afternoon, giving ACU a 16-9 lead. The Wildcats would pour it on in the first set racing a nine point lead and it to an 11 point lead when IJ Moronu's kill gave ACU a 23-12 lead.
Shawna Hines would pull ACU to match point at 24-12 on a sideline kill before the Lady Bulldogs would add two more points. However,
Jordan Schilling smashed a sideline kill of her own giving ACU the first set 25-14.
Both teams settled in for a fight in the second set trading points as Truman kept the advantage. Borger fired a service ace knotting the score at 9-9 and swinging the momentum back to the Wildcats. Moronu would follow with a nice touch kill in the middle of the court, before
Kalynne Allen came back with smash cross court giving the Wildcats 12-10 lead.
A solid block that barley fell inside the sideline from Hines and Moronu would force a TSU timeout. ACU kept pouring it on after the time out pulling up a 17-12 on a high kill from
Jennie Hutt. A pair of Hutt kills and a Lady Bulldog error would force another Truman timeout with the Wildcats up 21-15.
The Wildcats would close out the set only allowing three more points from TSU, but a Schilling kill and a service ace would give ACU the 25-18 win.
Looking for a sweep ACU would jump out to a 3-0 lead once again, but up Moronu would be forced out after stepping on an ankle. With the Wildcats up 6-4 freshman
Caley Johnson came in at setter helping the Wildcats keep pace with the charging Lady Bulldogs.
Allen and Borger would team up for a block followed by a Schilling kill giving ACU a 10-7 lead in the third set. However, TSU would charge ahead stealing the momentum and the third set keyed by a 10-2 run and scoring five of the final six points.
The Lady Bulldogs raced out in the fourth set continuing their momentum to a 16-10 lead forcing an ACU timeout. IJ Moronu returned for the final two sets and helped the Wildcats battle back to 22-19 but TSU caught a ball that rolled off the net and fell on an empty spot on the ACU side of the court taking the fourth set 25-19.
Both teams traded points, but as an Allen kill went long giving TSU a 5-3 lead it appeared the Wildcats
run was coming to an end. Borger would knock down another cross court kill tieing the match at 6-6 and both teams would trade points to the break at eight with TSU reaching the mark first.
A TSU kill would go wide making the score 8-8 and a Schilling kill down the sideline would swing the momentum back to the Wildcats.
Jennie Hutt would connect on a service ace as the Wildcats would withstand one last TSU charge.
Hines would post a big block sealing a thrilling Wildcat win at 15-10 as she finished with seven blocks on the afternoon.
Schilling led ACU with 16 kills followed by Hutt with 14. Schilling recorded a double-double and was a pace setter for the Wildcats adding 25 digs.
Kelsie Edwards was outstanding on the defensive end as well adding 29 digs.
ACU advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament to play MIAA Champion, Washburn Friday evening. Tipoff for tomorrow's second round match-up is scheduled for 5 p.m.
