SAN ANTONIO - Abilene Christian's volleyball team started its two-match Lone Star Conference road trip through southern Texas Friday night with a 3-0 loss at Incarnate Word.
The Cardinals, led by nine kills from Beth Soukup, won by scores of 25-20, 25-18 and 25-9 in improving to 6-8 (3-3 LSC) on the season.
The loss dropped ACU's season record to 4-10 (1-5 LSC).
UIW jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game one, but quickly lost that advantage as ACU responded with a 12-5 run in taking a two-point lead at 12-10. The Cardinals, however, came back to the tie the score and then the two sides battled through several more deadlocks.
The Wildcats tied the first set a final time at 20-20 on a kill by Reeder, but from there the home team scored the last five points, receiving a pair of aces from Chetina Chavis plus kills from Kelci Lind, Stephanie Bonura and Leilani Lealaimatafao.
The Cardinals again pulled away late to win the second set just after ACU crept within three points at 21-18, and then they jumped out to a 14-1 lead to begin the third game.
Chavis was instrumental in UIW's second-set win, during which she provided a late kill and block assist. She and Bonura finished the night with a match-high 9.5 points.
The Wildcats return to action Saturday for a 1 p.m. match at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
