ACU Volleyball Sweeps Zias

Saturday, September 24

Abilene, TX

2 p.m.

Abilene Christian

Eastern New Mexico

9/24/2011 3:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

ABILENE – The Abilene Christian volleyball team snapped a three-game losing streak following its 3-0 win over Eastern New Mexico Saturday at Moody Coliseum.

The 27-25, 25-18, 25-21 sweep was ACU's third of the season and first since a Sept. 3 game vs. Pace. The Wildcats' overall record now stands at 8-7 (4-3 Lone Star Conference), while the Zias dropped to 3-12 and 1-7.

ACU hit .257 for the game behind a solid performance from Jennie Hutt, who led all players with a .444 hitting percentage and 18 kills. Two of her kills served as the game-winners in the first and second sets. She also scored two of the last three points in the third set, which was ultimately decided on Zia Jessica King's attacking error.

Sara Oxford also was a major contributor on offense, ripping 10 kills for ACU while hitting a respectable .391.

Haley Rhoads served up a majority of the assists and finished with 43.

Defensively, the Wildcats outblocked the Zias, 6-2, receiving five and three block assists, respectively, from Whitney Stevens and Oxford. Meanwhile, Kelsie Edwards was one of four Wildcats to register a double-digit dig total of 21, with Allen, Rhoads and Hutt each contributing 12, 12 and 10.

Eastern New Mexico committed just one more error than ACU, 17-16, but hit just .176. Leading the Zia offense was Amber Durand with 11 kills.

ENM was in position to win the first set, but after reaching set point at 24-22, the Wildcats received one of three service aces from Neely Borger and a kill from Hutt that knotted it at 24-24.

Then after the Zias grabbed their final lead at 25-24, ACU benefitted from a Durand attacking error followed by consecutive kills from Oxford and Hutt.

The Wildcats return to action Friday, Sept. 30 for the start of the two-day Washburn Regional Crossover. Opponents there will include Emporia State and Truman State in addition to the host school.