Wildcats split opening matches

Friday, September 2

San Antonio, TX

1 p.m.

Abilene Christian

Illinois at Springfield

Photo by: Jeremy Enlow

9/2/2011 9:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

SAN ANTONIO – The ACU Wildcats split a pair of season-opening matches Friday at the St. Mary's Classic, beating Illinois-Springfield before falling to Regis (Colo.) at Bill Greehey Arena.

The Wildcats – 1-1 on the season – will take on East Central at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a 2 p.m. match against Pace University.

ACU, replacing all-America middle blocker Shawna Hines and all-region setter ijeoma Moronu from last year's regional tournament qualifier, opened the season with a 27-25, 25-20, 25-23 win over Illinois-Springfield. However, the Wildcats then dropped a 25-20, 25-16, 25-17 decision to Regis.

In the opener, sophomore Neely Borger – last year's Freshman of the Year in the Lone Star Conference – led a balanced attack with nine kills and two blocks, while freshman Sara Oxford had eight kills and five blocks.

Setters Caley Johnson (17 assists) and Haley Rhoads (14 assists) directed a Wildcat offense that finished with 41 kills among nine different players. Illinois-Springfield hit just .100 in the match with no player finishing with more than seven kills.

In the Regis match, senior outside hitter Jennie Hutt had 11 kills and 14 digs, but ACU couldn't overcome a .136 team hitting percentage. Regis hit .272 and had a pair of players in double figures in kills (Christina Henzgen with 11 and Gina Morgan with 10) as the Rangers picked up the win.