ABILENE - Led by a .550 attacking percentage and 15 points from Nikki McNorton, the Tarleton State TexAnns spoiled Abilene Christian volleyball's home opener Friday night at Moody Coliseum with a closely contested 3-0 victory.
The TexAnns won by scores of 26-24, 25-19 and 25-22, and were especially volatile at the net where they out-blocked the Wildcats, 11-3, in improving to 8-3 (3-1 Lone Star Conference) on the season. The loss dropped ACU's overall and conference marks to 4-7 and 1-2.
McNorton scored 11 of her points off the attack and also came away with three solo blocks and two assists.
Sophomore
Sara Oxford and freshmen
Corrie Reeder were among ACU's scoring leaders with 17.5 and 10.5 points, respectively. Oxford led her club with 16 kills. Reeder delivered nine kills and was part of three blocks.
The two sides battled through 13 ties and nine lead changes in game one, but after ACU knotted the score at 24-24 on a Tarleton attack error, the Wildcats were then called for two consecutive ball-handling errors that gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.
From there in game two, the TexAnns used the momentum in jumping out to a 11-6 lead but ACU recorded six of the next seven points in tying the score at 12-12. Senior
Kalynne Allen led the Wildcats during this stretch with two points and was the server of record during the final three.
ACU would have to catch up to Tarleton twice more down the stretch, but following an Oxford kill that made it 16-16 the TexAnns reeled off seven consecutive points to take full control of the set. Tarleton would go up 2-0 several plays later after setter Danielle Barker assisted on Nikki McNorton's game-clinching point.
Barker finished the night with 42 assists.
The Wildcats led most of the third set, but again ran into trouble late when Tarleton went on a 8-5 run to take a 23-20 lead. ACU closed within one after scoring the next two points on a kill from
Rachel Riley and ace by
Sara Oxford, but another error put the Wildcats down by two and then McNorton finished the match for good.
McNorton did not register an error through 20 attempts.
The Wildcats return to action Saturday at 2 p.m. vs. No. 11 Angelo State. Fans are encouraged to wear purple and arrive early to receive a free ACU rally towel.
