FORT WORTH, Texas—The Wildcats opened their beach volleyball season at the Horned Frogs Challenge on the campus of TCU. The team played four matches on the weekend, including two against Nebraska and one against the host team, the No. 15 Horned Frogs.
After struggling early in the tournament, losing the first three matches without taking a set, the Wildcats settled in when they faced Nebraska for the second time.
Lindsey Toney and
Breanna Box won at the No. 5 spot for the teams only match win of the weekend, 22-20, 6-21, 15-13.
Mackenzie Harris and
Hunter Barker played in the No. 1 spot for the Wildcats all weekend playing close with all of their opponents. The pair took a set from Nebraska's top pair in the second match of the day but came up short in the third set.
Freshman,
Allyson Anderson and sophomore, Madison Rorhe played two tough matches against Nebraska forcing both of their contests to a third set. The fell 18-21, 21-16, 8-15 in the first match before falling 23-25, 21-18, 6-15.
Freshman,
Sarah Nading, who joined the team this spring after graduating high school early, played at the No. 5 spot with Toney through most of the weekend. This was her first game action at the college level.
Coach's Insights
On getting the season underway: "It is always great to finish the first weekend. With so many of our players being new to beach volleyball, or this being their first college competition, there are always some nerves to get out that you cannot simulate in practice. As competitive as our practices are you get to know how your teammates play, getting to finally compete against other programs pushes you to use all of your skills."
On facing tough competition in the first weekend: "Our girls handled the competition very well. We have talked a lot about controlling our side of the net and playing with joy no matter who you are playing. Watching them play, you would have had no idea that their opponents were nationally ranked. They want to compete and win no matter who they are playing."
On what they can take from the first weekend into their AZ trip: "In the first week of competition you learn a lot about yourself, your partner, and what you need to be successful. This week leading up to our Arizona trip we want to focus on ironing these things out and helping each of our pairs strengthen their weaknesses. We want to continue the growth that they had this weekend and foster their competitive spirits"
Texas A&M Kingsville 5, Abilene Christian 0
1. Tenley Housler/Roxanne Morris (TAMUK) def.
Mackenzie Harris/
Hunter Barker (ACU) 21-13, 21-17
2. Meghan Merlino/Macy Berg (TAMUK) def.
Logan Browning/
Kennedy Shelstead (ACU) 21-13, 21-14
3. Kailey Estrada/Shelby Williams (TAMUK) def.
Brittney Roberts/
Claire Dunn (ACU) 21-8, 21-13
4. Emily North/Macie Satterwhite (TAMUK) def.
Allyson Anderson/
Madison Rohre (ACU) 21-10, 21-15
5. Shelby Tate/Rylie Anderson (TAMUK) def.
Lindsey Toney/
Sarah Nading (ACU) 21-9, 21-10
Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,2,1,3);
#15 TCU 5, Abilene Christian 0
1. Olivia Beyer/Taylor Bradley (TCU) def.
Hunter Barker/
Mackenzie Harris (ACU) 21-10, 21-18
2. Jensyn Bledsoe/Trinity Cavanaugh (TCU) def.
Logan Browning/
Kennedy Shelstead (ACU) 21-8, 21-10
3. Haven Hill/Avery Arellano (TCU) def.
Claire Dunn/
Brittney Roberts (ACU) 21-16, 21-9
4. Lauren Turner/Bella Swafford (TCU) def.
Allyson Anderson/
Madison Rohre (ACU) 21-9, 21-8
5. Jordan Westendorff/Kathryn Kramer (TCU) def.
Lindsey Toney/
Sarah Nading (ACU) 21-10, 21-14
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,2,3,1);
Nebraska 5, Abilene Christian 0
1. Lauren Stivrins/Nicklin Hames (NEB) def.
Hunter Barker/
Mackenzie Harris (ACU) 21-17, 21-11
2. Lexi Sun/Jazz Sweet (NEB) def.
Kennedy Shelstead/
Logan Browning (ACU) 22-20, 21-14
3. Madi Kubik/Kenzie Knuckles (NEB) def.
Claire Dunn/
Brittney Roberts (ACU) 21-19, 21-16
4. Emma Gabel/Riley Zuhn (NEB) def.
Allyson Anderson/
Madison Rohre (ACU) 21-18, 16-21, 15-8
5. Callie Schwarzenbach/Hayley Densberger (NEB) def.
Lindsey Toney/
Sarah Nading (ACU) 21-15, 21-8
Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,2,3,1);
Nebraska 4, Abilene Christian 1
1.
Madi Kubik/Kenzie Knuckles (NEB) def.
Hunter Barker/
Mackenzie Harris (ACU) 13-21, 21-17, 15-5
2. Lauren Stivrins/Nicklin Hames (NEB) def.
Claire Dunn/
Brittney Roberts (ACU) 21-12, 21-9
3.
Lexi Sun/Jazz Sweet (NEB) def.
Kennedy Shelstead/
Logan Browning (ACU) 21-19, 26-24
4. Callie Schwarzenbach/Hayley Densberger
(NEB) def.
Allyson Anderson/
Madison Rohre (ACU) 23-25, 21-18, 15-6
5.
Lindsey Toney/
Breanna Box (ACU) def. Emma Gabel/Riley Zuhn
(NEB) 22-20, 6-21, 15-13
Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,3,2,1)
Up Next
ACU will travel to Arizona during the week of spring break where they will play eight matches. The team will head out on March 5 and you can catch their journey on the NCAA Volleyball instagram as they take over the account for the day on the fifth!
