ABILENE — ACU heads for the Alamo City on Friday at the head to the Convocation Center to participate in the UTSA invitational.
The Wildcats begin the tournament against former Southland Conference foe Incarnate Word at 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Later on Friday, ACU will take on tournament host UTSA at 7 p.m., with the game streaming live on ESPN+. To wrap up the tournament, ACU will play Saturday at 11 a.m. against Holy Cross from the Patriot League.
ACU Storylines
LAST WEEK: ACU finished 1-2 in their first three games of the 2024 season at the Baylor Classic. The Wildcats got their first win of the season against Campbell on Friday night, 3-1. ACU was swept in both its season opener against #23 ranked Baylor and the last game of the tournament against Tulsa.
MILESTONES REACHED: Two Wildcats hit career milestones last week at the Baylor Classic. Senior Bryley Steinhilber reached 600 kills in her career and Sara Carrizales reached 500 digs. Both have played their entire career at ACU.
HOLDING DOWN THE MIDDLE: Middle blockers Hannah Gonzalez and Nieko Thomas made an impression in the middle in the team's first three games. The two started in all three matches and combined for 34 kills and 16 blocks.
MAKING HER MARK: Sophomore Izabelle Larson made her presence known the first weekend of the season. She led the team with 28 kills over the weekend, with 10 kills and 10 digs in back-to-back games. Larson also totaled 28 digs and three blocks over the weekend.
SET UP FOR SUCCESS: Senior Madeline Guffy and sophomore Rachel Koss split times running the Wildcat offense last week. Guffy ultimately finished the Baylor Classic with 55 assists while Koss finished with 28.
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH: Three Wildcats have the opportunity to reach career milestones while at the UTSA Invitational. Junior Ashli Edmiston is nine digs away from 400 digs in her career, Madeline Guffy is 18 assists away from reaching the 1,500 assists mark and Izabelle Larson is 16 digs away from 100 digs.
History with Incarnate Word
- ACU leads the series 14-10
- Current streak: ACU 2 wins
- Last ACU win: Aug. 28, 2021 in Abilene, 3-2
- Last UIW win: Nov. 7 2019 in San Antonio, 3-2
Scouting the Cardinals
- UIW is 2-1 this season after winning games against Sam Houston and Prairie View A&M at the Bearkat Invitational in Huntsville
- The Cardinals were picked to finish eighth in the Southland in their preseason poll, but currently sit in sixth
- At the net, outside Risa Sena leads the team with 30 kills while hitting .205 percent meanwhile Kade Thomas and Teyhlor Thomas lead the team with eight blocks
- Audrey Patton leads the Cardinal defense with 38 digs so far this season, and setting efforts are split between Calissa Allison and Anuhea Faitau with 48 assists each
History with UTSA
- UTSA leads the series, 1-0
- Current streak: UTSA 1 wins
- Last ACU win: N/A
- Last UTSA win, Aug. 31 2018 in San Marcos, 3-1
Scouting the Roadrunners
- The Roadrunners started the season 1-2 after dropping games against William & Mary and Old Dominion at the Quest for the Crown tournament, hosted by Old Dominion
- Preseason polls have UTSA slated to finish seventh in the American Athletic Conference, but the team currently sits in 10th after last weekend
- Junior opposite Mia Sorensen was one of five players selected unanimously for American Conference preseason honors and currently leads the team with 27 kills while also adding 11 blocks
- Allah Girous leads the team with 46 digs while Morgen Durgens has 48 assists
History with Holy Cross
- This will be the first-ever matchup between ACU and Holy Cross
Scouting the Crusaders
- Holy Cross started their 2024 campaign 1-2 after winning their season opener against Siena but then took back-to-back losses to Stonehill and Purdue-Fort Wayne
- The Crusaders are sixth in the Patriot League standings
- Junior right side Gracie Reisman earned Patriot League Player of the Week, posting a team-high 43 kills (3.07 K/S) off 82 total attacks for a .451 hitting percentage over three games, she led the league in hitting percentage, was second in kills (43) and third in total attacks (82) on opening weekend
- Lauren Halverson leads the team with 13 blocks, Katie Russell leads setting efforts with 73 assists and Emma Halstead leads the team with 54 digs
