Volleyball to Host Weekend Tourney

ABILENE – Four teams play six matches in two days at Abilene Christian's home volleyball tournament this weekend.
 
The tournament begins with North Dakota taking on Grambling State at 1 p.m. The Wildcats take over at 3 p.m. to play Providence, followed by a contest against North Dakota at 7 p.m.
 
Saturday's action begins at 10 a.m. with Providence playing North Dakota. Providence and Grambling State play at 1 p.m. and the Wildcats finish off the tournament with a 4 p.m. match against Grambling State.
 
ACU Storylines
 
MOVING FORWARD: After taking down preseason Southland Conference favorite Houston Christian, 3-1, in the season opener, the Cats have lost 3-1 at Texas Tech and 3-2 at home to Texas A&M-Commerce. ACU was down three starters in the last contest.
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT: Sara Carrizales earned All-Tournament honors last weekend at Texas Tech's Under Armour Challenge when she averaged five digs per set. She leads the team with 4.15 digs per set.
 
ASSISTANCE: Madeline Guffy averaged 11.38 assists per game in the Texas Tech tournament. Rachel Koss averaged 10 per set on Tuesday.
 
ASHLI POINTS & KILLS: Ashli Edmiston leads the team in kills with 3.92 per set. She also leads the team with 4.33 points per set.
 
SHE'S ACES: Freshman Abby Christian has seven service aces to lead the Wildcats this season.
 

History with Providence
 
First Meeting
 
Scouting the Friars

• The Friars enter the tournament 0-3 after competing at the Cal State Bakersfield Tournament last weekend. The Friars fell to Southern Utah University (1-3), Cal State Bakersfield (0-3), and Eastern Washington University (1-3). Kayla Grant (Rowlett, Texas) earned All-Tournament Honors.
• Macy Taylor (Rowlett, Texas) leads the team in kills, with 29, followed by Grant who tallied 25 in the Cal State Bakersfield Tournament.
• Savannah Ivie (Frisco, Texas) registered a team-high 37 digs. Ivie is ranked 10th in the BIG EAST in digs.
• JiJi Lykins (Coral Springs, Fla.) leads the Friars in service aces, with five. Lykins is tied for fourth in the BIG EAST for service aces.

 
History with North Dakota
First Meeting
 
Scouting the Fighting Hawks

• The Fighting Hawks travel to Abilene, Texas with a 0-3 record after the Bobcat Blackridge Invite Tournament. They fell to Kennesaw State (0-3), Montana State (1-3), and Oregon State (0-3).
• Graduate student Elizabeth Norris leads North Dakota in assists with 47 and in digs with 23.
• Sophomore Paige Barber leads the offense with 24 kills through the first three games followed by Kaycee O'Dell who has 23.

 
History with Grambling State
ACU leads 1-0
The only other meeting: ACU won 3-0 in Arlington in 2013.
 
Scouting the Tigers
 

• The Tigers head to the ACU Tournament with a 1-3 record after playing in the Southeastern Louisiana Tournament. They fell to Southeastern Louisiana (0-3), the University of Texas El Paso (0-3), and the University of Washington (0-3) and won against the University of Louisiana at Monroe (3-2).
• Senior Zyonn Smith leads the offense with 30 kills through the first four matches.
• Nyah Ellis leads the Tigers in digs, with 54.