WIldcats Bounce Back for Five-Set Win

ARLINGTON – Abilene Christian got off the deck of being down two sets to score an exciting win at Texas-Arlington on Thursday, 3-2.
 
The Wildcats won 19-25, 13-25, 25-20, 25-22, 17-15.
 
After losing the first set, ACU saw the Mavericks put together four blocks in the second set and hold the Cats to a negative attack percentage in a 12-point loss.
 
"I'm so proud of the fight that the girls showed in sets 3, 4, 5," said ACU Head Coach Ijeoma Moronu Alstrup. "We came out slow and played uncharacteristically but we were able to start focusing on our side of the court and began executing the game plan well."
 
Down 10-8 in the third set, ACU got kills from Bryley Steinhilber, Breanna Box and Andie Sheppard in a 4-0 run for a 12-10 lead. Steinhilber later ended the set with a kill.
 
ACU trailed 13-9 in the fourth set but methodically inched closer until a 4-0 run propelled the Wildcats to a 20-18 lead. Hannah Gonzalez was in on two blocks, Ashli Edmiston had a kill and Izzy Larson added an ace in the spree.
 
Steinhilber again ended the set with a kill to force a wild fifth set.
 
ACU led 11-8 but UTA caught up but couldn't take control of the set. With the score tied at 15-15, Box and Madeline Guffy came up with a block to get to match point and Box and Steinhilber provided the winner with a second consecutive block.
 
Steinhilber led the Cats with 23 kills and added 12 digs. Edmiston had 13 kills and Guffy had 47 assists.
 
Sheppard had three aces.
 
Box finished with five blocks and Chloe Karn had three. Sara Carrizales led the Wildcats with 19 digs.
 
"Hannah Gonzalez did a great job stepping in and contributing positively on defense," said Moronu Alstrup. "Bryley had another great night offensively and continues to be someone we can rely on. Sara also had a really solid night, they went after her on serve receive but she stayed extremely resilient and tough on defense. Madeline Guffy did a fantastic job leading the offense and gave us good looks all night long. She came up with some big plays on the front row."
 
Now 10-9 overall and 5-2 in the WAC, the Wildcats visit Stephen F. Austin at noon on Saturday.
 
"What a great match to be a part of," said Moronu Alstrup. "We can't wait to compete again in Nacogdoches this Saturday and then be back in front of our home crowd come Thursday."