VB Hopes to Build Momentum Out West

ABILENE – Abilene Christian heads west for its final out-of-state road trip of the regular season, visiting Utah Valley at 8:30 p.m. (Central) on Thursday and Seattle at 4 p.m. (Central) on Saturday.
 
Both teams are behind ACU in the standings and the Wildcats will look to get a head of steam going as the regular season winds down.
 
The Cats are 10-12 overall and 5-5 in the Western Athletic Conference standings after losing Monday at Tarleton State.
 
Bryley Steinhilber and Ashli Edmiston lead the attack for ACU with Steinhilber averaging 2.98 kills and Edmiston 2.65. Steinhilber, who averages 3.38 kills against WAC opponents, had 13 kills and 10 digs in the last meeting with Seattle. Edmiston had 18 kills against UVU and 13 against Seattle.
 
Madeline Guffy averages 9.01 assists per game and 9.67 assists in league games. Guffy had 49 assists and 12 digs in the loss to UVU and 41 assists in the win over Seattle.
 
Sara Carrizales leads the defense with 3.59 digs per set. She got 23 in the five-set match with UVU and 10 against Seattle.
 
Utah Valley enters at 7-14 overall and 4-6 in the WAC despite a 3-2 win at ACU in September.
 
Avery Shewell leads the Wolverines with 3.18 kills per set and 27 aces. UVU's strength has been its defense with Carleigh Vagana averaging 1.31 blocks and Kendra Nolk getting 1.00 blocks per set. Lani Matavao averages 3.78 digs.
 
Seattle is looking for its first home win of the season. The Redhawks are 6-15 overall, 1-9 in the WAC and 0-4 at home. ACU got the sweep in September.
 
Arianna Bilby averages 3.48 kills per set while Elif Teksoy averages 9.03 assists and leads the team with 18 aces.
 
Katlyn Sipes averages 3.34 digs per set.