Volleyball Launches Season This Weekend

Saturday, August 26

Lubbock, Texas

3:30 p.m.

Abilene Christian

Houston Christian

Photo by: Natalie Wright

8/24/2023 4:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Ray Fink

	Saturday vs. Houston Christian 3:30 PM \| @Texas Tech	Live Stats
	Sunday at Texas Tech 2 PM	Live Stats

ABILENE – Abilene Christian opens the 2023 volleyball season against a pair of top-rate opponents in the Under Armour Challenge at Texas Tech.

The Wildcats face former Southland Conference foe Houston Christian at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday before meeting Texas Tech at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

ACU hopes to start the Ijeoma Moronu Alstrup coaching era victoriously on the road. The Cats play their home opener on Tuesday against Texas A&M-Commerce.

ACU Storylines

NEW COACH: The matches at Texas Tech mark the beginning of the Ijeoma Moronu Alstrup coaching era. An ACU Athletics Hall of Famer as a player, Coach IJ (pronounced EJ) had been coaching overseas before returning to Abilene.

OLD COACH: Coach IJ replaces Alisa Blair, who left ACU to become associate head coach at Texas Tech. Blair was 7-19 at ACU last season.

TOUGH STARTS: ACU is 2-8 in season openers since beginning its Division I era. ACU beat Texas-Arlington in 2021 and Georgetown in 2018 to begin those seasons.

POWER HUNGRY: The Wildcats are 1-22 since 2013 against teams from what has been considered the Power 5. That win was in 2013 against Texas Tech.

FRONT LOADED: The Cats return six starters from last year, including the top two finishers Bryley Steinhilber (2.66 kills/set) and 2022 WAC Freshman of the Year Ashli Edmiston (2.48 k/s). Braden Bossier (0.83 blocks/set) and Breanna Box (0.64 b/s) also are back this season.

HERE TO HELP: Top setter Madeline Guffy is back this season after leading the team with 4.96 assists per set last season as a sophomore.

History with Houston Christian

HCU leads the series 9-3
Current streak: HCU 4 wins
Last ACU win: 2018 in Abilene, 3-2
Last HCU win: 2021 in Houston, 3-0
Series on a neutral court: tied 1-1

Scouting the Huskies

HCU was 23-11 last season and lost in the Southland Conference finals.
The Huskies are the preseason favorite to win the Southland this season.
Sarah Arroyo (3.06 k/s) and Anna Gadway (3.02 k/s) are back this season and picked as preseason first-team All-Southland honorees.
HCU opens the season Friday at Texas Tech

History with Texas Tech

Texas Tech leads the series 7-1
Current Streak: Texas Tech 6 wins
Last ACU win: 2013 in Abilene, 3-1
Last Texas Tech win: 2021 in Abilene, 3-0
At ACU: Tech leads 2-1
At Tech: Tech leads 5-0

Scouting the Red Raiders

Tech went 16-13 last season and lost its top two killers Kenna Sauer and Reagan Cooper, who combined for 6.8 kills per set last season.
Reese Rhodes led the team with 10.53 assists per set last season and returns for her senior season.
Maddie O'Brien, who led the team with 39 aces last season, returns for her senior season.
Libero Maddie Correa returns as a junior after leading the Red Raiders with 3.31 digs last season.