Women's Volleyball | 8/26/2015 11:40:00 AM
ACU Seniors Season Preview | Head Coach Jason Bibler Season Preview TCU Live Video | TCU Live Stats | UTEP Live Stats | Arizona Live Stats ABILENE – Abilene Christian volleyball starts its 45th year of competition and third as NCAA Division I members of the Southland Conference this weekend with three matches split between tournaments hosted by TCU and SMU.
The Wildcats first visit the Horned Frogs Friday at 11 a.m. for the first match of the Crosstown Classic that will be live streamed on GoFrogs.com. Saturday ACU will battle UTEP at TCU at 10 a.m. before driving 40 minutes east to SMU, where the Wildcats meet 17th-ranked Arizona at 5 p.m. for match four of the SMU Doubletree Classic.
All three matches will offer live stats.
ACU is facing Arizona and UTEP for the first time in program history. Last year they lost a regionally televised match at TCU (10-25,17-25,25-19,16-25) in the first meeting between the two schools last fall.
The loss to TCU is one of many the Wildcats are looking to rebound from this season, and they may be in good position to do so as they return seven letterwinners, including veteran starters Jennie Loerch (outside hitter),
Madison Hoover (libero),
Lexi Mercier (middle blocker) and
Sarah Siemens (setter).
ACU also gets back sophomore outside hitter
Stephanie Schoelman from injury, as well as important reserves
Dorothy Swanson (junior) and sophomore
Corinne Grandcolas (sophomore).
Bringing additional energy and enthusiasm to the roster is a talented class of seven freshmen, which has continually pushed the upperclassmen throughout their practices. This year's rookie crop includes setter
Kendall Bosse, outside hitter
Mikai Brown, middle blockers
Lauren Walker and
Jacey Smith, and defensive specialists/liberos
Gabrielle Grindele,
Lillian Drever and
Jennifer Mendez.
About The OppositionTCU: The Frogs finished 17-15 overall and 6-10 in Big 12 play in 2014 … Anchoring the returners are Preseason All-Big 12 selection Ashley Smith; senior setter Alexia Heist; senior right side Blaire Pickens; junior outside hitter Sarita Mikals; senior libero Sutton Sunstrom; and junior middle blockers Regan McGuire and Natalie Gower.
UTEP: A member of Conference USA, UTEP finished 6-23 a year ago and went 4-12 vs. its league … This year's roster is composed of seven freshmen, two sophomores, three juniors and three seniors.
Arizona: Arizona is coming off its best season in nearly a decade (24-10, 12-8 Pac-12) in which the Wildcats advanced the second round of the NCAA Tournament … UA returns four starters from its 2014 campaign, including all-conference setter Penina Snuka as well as senior middle blocker Halli Amaro.
