Wildcats welcome Oklahoma to open Moody Coliseum

ABILENE - After starting the 2022 season with eight-straight matches on the road, the Abilene Christian volleyball team will host their first event in the newly renovated Moody Coliseum on Tuesday night. The Wildcats welcome Big 12 opponent Oklahoma for just the second meeting between the teams. The Sooners are coming off of a 3-0 weekend in Santa Clara, while ACU is coming off of a 1-2 trip to Tulsa. When the team's met for the first time last season it featured a second set that went 33-31 in favor of OU and it could be another competitive match to start the home slate in Abilene. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. OKLAHOMA

• ALL-TIME | 2nd meeting (OU leads, 1-0)
• LAST MEETING | Oklahoma 3, ACU 0 (Sept. 14, 2021 - Norman, Okla.)
• STREAK | Oklahoma, W1
• IN ABILENE | n/a
• IN NORMAN | OU leads 1-0
• NEUTRAL | n/a
• POSTSEASON | n/a

A LOOK AT THE 'CATS

• TRIPLE THREAT: Madeline Guffy notched a double-double in each of the last three matches. She continues to have success running the offense, alongside Madison Rohre, and has matched that with her defensive presence as well. Her dig numbers are in the top three on the team and on top of her assists and digs she is leading the team in aces with 18 on the year. 
• BLOCK PARTY: Braden Bossier has started the season with 15 blocks through five matches including an eight-block outing against Missouri State last weekend. She is quickly moving into the ACU record books and is currently ranked 10th all-time for total blocks with 141 and ninth all-time for block assists with 133.
• FRESHMAN PHENOM: Ashli Edmiston continues to make her mark for the Wildcats through three weekends of action. The freshman leads the team in both kills per set (2.53) and points per set (2.92). She opened the season with a double-double, she now has three on the season, and has five double-digit kill performances.
• DIGGING DEEP: The team posted their most digs in a four-set match with 89 against the Lobos on opening weekend and matched that total in a defensive slugfest against Tulsa last weekend. Logan Browning set a new career-high with 27 digs against Tulsa and five different players registered double-digit digs in the match. The Wildcats are averaging 16.53 digs per set as a team which is ranked 21st in the NCAA.
• RETURNERS: The team lost two key starters from a season ago, but bring back a solid core of players who have a great wealth of experience on the court. Madison Rohre returns for her fifth season of action, while Brea Box and Logan Browning look to put together their best foot forward in their senior season. Jada Birkel, Londyn Gray, and Rachel Crismore round out the senior class and bring a great deal of leadership and talent to the court. Other key returners include Braden Bossier, Bryley Steinhilber and Andie Sheppard who could all be impact players this season.
• NEWCOMERS: The Wildcats brought in five new players this fall with each player having a chance to make an impact in their first season. Sophomore setter Madeline Guffy impressed in the team's scrimmage and both Emily Mekelburg and Ashli Edmiston could be key players on the outside.
• THE BLAIR ERA: Alisa Blair returns to the helm of a program for the first time since spending three seasons as head coach with the Hill College volleyball program where she went 83-38 during her tenure. Blair was instrumental in the success of programs at Central Oklahoma and, most recently, SFA as an assistant and will now strive to bring that same success to Abilene.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA (7-2)

• OU had a successful weekend out west where they went 3-0, earning wins over Santa Clara, Tulane, and Fresno State, last weekend. The team has jumped out to an impressive 7-2 record.
• The team is ranked in the top-30 of the country in both team hitting percentage (.282) and blocks per set (2.68) providing a balanced front at the net. 
• Libero Callie Kemohah is top-15 in the country averaging 5.21 digs per set. 
• Megan Wilson has nearly 100 more attempts than the next OU hitter and is leading the team with 125 kills on the year. 

Follow ACU on social media:

Twitter: @ACU_Volleyball | @ACUsports

Instagram: @acu_volleyball | @acusports

Facebook: /acusports

#GoWildcats