Cats Off to San Marcos This Weekend

ABILENE – Abilene Christian volleyball, fresh from a thrilling 3-1 victory over Texas Tech, heads to the Bobcat Classic this weekend to face Southeastern Louisiana, California and Texas State.
 
The Wildcats have won four consecutive matches, including a sweep of the ACU Tournament, and now stand at 5-2.
 
ACU heads to its second tournament of the season after going 1-1 in Lubbock to start the season.
 
ACU Storylines
 
DRIVING IN NEUTRAL: ACU is 1-0 on a neutral court this season with a 3-1 over Houston Christian. The Huskies have gone 4-1 since their trip to Lubbock.
 
SOLID FIELD: The three matches on the docket this weekend for ACU are against teams with a combined 12-3 record this season and all three teams are above .500.
 
HOT START: ACU is off to a 5-2 start for the first time since the 2020-21 Covid season when the Wildcats were 5-2 before ending at 7-8.
 
POWER UP: The Wildcats are 1-1 against Power 5 opponents this season after evening the season series with Texas Tech on Tuesday. They are 1-1 against the Big 12, 1-1 against the Southland and 1-0 each against the Big East, SWAC and Summit.
 
KILLER QUARTET: ACU has been a hydra in the kills category with four players averaging more than 2.8 kills per set. Ashli Edmiston leads the group at 3.32 and Bryley Steinhilber at 3.00. Braden Bossier gets 2.96 and Breanna Box checks in at 2.87.
 
MAY I HELP YOU?: Madeline Guffy returned to the starting lineup Thursday and leads the team in assists at 9.93. Rachel Koss is averaging 9.44. Guffy is second in the WAC in assists per set.
 
NOW SERVING: Sara Carrizales leads the Wildcats with 14 aces through seven matches this season. Abby Christian is not far off that pace at 10. Madeline Guffy has nine and leads the WAC in aces per set. Carrizales is second in the aces per set category
 
DIGGITY: Sara Carrizales averages a strong 4.61 digs per set this season to lead the Wildcats. She ranks third in the WAC.

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History with Southeastern Louisiana
ACU leads 5-3
Home: 4-1, Away: 1-2
 
Scouting the Lions
 
The Lions are 3-2 this season after beating Arkansas-Little Rock and Central Arkansas in UCA's Tournament
Kaitlyn Newsome leads SLU with 3.37 kills per set.
Gracie Dupelchein is SLU's top setter, averaging 7.32 assists per game.
Ansley Tullis averages a team-leading 2.95 digs per set
 

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History with California
First match
 
Scouting the Golden Bears
California is 5-0 after sweeping Southern Utah. They play St. Mary's (Calif.) Wednesday night.
Maggie Li leads the team with 3.94 kills per set.
Sam Taumoepeau leads the Bears with a 9.59 assists-per-game average.
Tara DeSa has a respectable 4.53 digs per set average to lead Cal.
 

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History with Texas State
 
Texas State leads the series 3-0
Home: 0-0; Away: 0-1; Neutral: 0-2
 
Scouting the Bobcats
 
The Bobcats are 2-0 at home this season
Texas State is 4-1 this year after toppling No. 13 Houston in three sets and beating North Texas 3-2 over the weekend.
KJ Johnson leads TSU with 3.94 kills per set.
Ryan Torres averages 10.655 assists per game.
Jaqueline Lee is the TSU leader in digs, averaging 3.53.