Bosse named to All-Tournament Team at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA, Ga. – Abilene Christian finished in a three-way tie for second-place at Hyatt Regency Invitational after finishing the two-day, four-match tournament Saturday with losses to host Georgia Tech (3-0) and Idaho State (3-2).

ACU's 2-2 mark, which included Friday's triumphs over Georgetown and Winthrop, matched the Hoyas' and Bengals' records, while the Eagles finished 0-4 and the Yellow Jackets a perfect 4-0.

The Wildcats totaled 254 points on the weekend with per set averages of 11.35 kills, 1.53 aces, 12.82 digs and 2.06 blocks per set. They also recorded a .210 attack percentage with their opposition slightly better at .219.

Sophomore Katelyn Mueller was the team's offense leader, tallying 68.5 points, which included a pair of 19 kill matches (career high) vs. the Hoyas and Bengals plus eight service aces. Five of her aces came in the five-set defeat to Idaho State, tying an ACU D1 single-match record with Kendall Bosse (Oct. 2016 vs. Nicholls) and Jacey Smith (Sept. 2016 vs. Incarnate Word).

Speaking of Bosse, she was the Wildcats' lone representative on the all-tournament team anchored by Georgia Tech's Mariana Brambilla (MVP) and Mikaila Dowd. Additional selections included Georgetown's Symone Speech, Idaho State's Abby Garrity and Winthrop's Sydney Gunter.

A setter from Ingram, Texas, Bosse averaged 9.29 assists this weekend with 12 kills, two aces, 2.41 digs per set (41) and nine blocks. Friday, she surpassed 2,000 career assists in the win vs. Georgetown and now ranks eighth all-time at ACU with 2,125.

Bosse recorded 27 assists this morning vs. Georgia Tech and added 43 vs. Idaho State, during which the Wildcats dug themselves out of 0-2 deficit by hitting .350 through sets three and four.

ACU dropped the first two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-20, but climbed right back into the match thanks to a convincing performance in set three, 25-17. ACU snapped a 13-13 tie with consecutive blocks that both involved newcomer Kennedy Shelstead, and pushed its lead to 17-13 with a pair of Mueller service aces sandwiched around an Idaho State timeout.

In the fourth set, ACU utilized an 11-3 run in jumping out to a 19-11 advantage. Mueller and junior Marybeth Sandercox each recorded a couple of kills during this stretch in addition to two more Shelstead blocks (with Sandercox and Bosse).

Shelstead only appeared in three sets this weekend – all vs. the Bengals – and finished with one solo block and five blocks assists.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Idaho State saved some of its best offense for the final set, hitting .533 with 11 kills on 15 attempts. The Bengals went ahead for good on back-to-back blocks that forced ACU into a timeout, and several possessions later were ahead 12-8 following a Brooke Pehrson service ace.

ACU from there could only get as close as two points as Garrity finished the match with her 20th kill (.255).

Earlier in the day, Georgia Tech swept ACU by scores of 25-16, 25-23 and 25-15. The Yellow Jackets distanced themselves from the Wildcats in the midst of sets one and three, but had to come from behind in set two.

ACU held its largest lead on Georgia Tech at 19-16 following a Yellow Jacket error, but the hosts would score four of the next five points to tie the score at 20-20. The score would be knotted again at 21, 22 and 23 with Georgia Tech scoring the final three points on a kill, block and Wildcat attack error.

The Wildcats have a quick turnaround this week starting with a Tuesday night match vs. Texas Tech at 6 p.m. followed by a Friday / Saturday tournament at Texas State.

Georgia Tech Hyatt Regency All-Tournament Team
MVP: Mariana Brambilla (GT)
Mikaila Dowd (GT)
Kendall Bosse (ACU)
Symone Speech (GU)
Abby Garrity (ISU)
Sydney Gunter (WIN)

Standings
Georgia Tech: 4-0
Idaho State: 2-2
ACU: 2-2
Georgetown: 2-2
Winthrop: 0-4