BEAUMONT, Texas - Abilene Christian volleyball suffered a three-set sweep at Lamar's McDonald Gym Tuesday night, losing to the Cardinals by scores of 25-21, 25-20, 25-20. Sophomore outside hitter
Jacey Smith led the Wildcats with 10 kills, but the team only hit .117 to Lamar's .259.
The loss snapped ACU's two-match winning streak, dropping its overall and conference records to 7-18 and 6-4, while the Cardinals improved to 4-16 and 4-4.
The Wildcats scored two dramatic five-set wins at home this past weekend against two quality sides from Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State but couldn't bring that momentum into tonight's match as the Cardinals held the lead from the very start in game one, and used runs of 5-0 and 4-0 run to distance themselves in game two.
ACU grabbed its largest lead of the night at four points (13-9) midway through game three, but the Cardinals countered with a 7-1 run that flipped a three-point deficit into a 20-17 lead that they would not relinquish. The Wildcats scored three of the next four points to pull within one only to see Lamar finish the contest on a 4-0 run sparked by consecutive blocks involving Dannisha House.
Lamar outblocked the Wildcats, 6.5 to 4.0, to go along with 43 kills and five service aces. Chelsea Grant led her side with 15 kills, while Haley Morton had 26 assists and Carlyn Stella dug out 18 attacks.
Senior
Lexi Mercier was the lone Wildcat to hit above .200 as she delivered seven kills on 11 attempts (.545) with two block assists. Setter
Kendall Bosse assisted on 29 kills and libero
Amanda Chapa had 15 of the team's 47 digs.Â
The Wildcats are off this weekend, and return to the road Oct. 28 and 30 for matches at Northwestern State and Central Arkansas.
