DENTON, Texas - Abilene Christian volleyball takes a detour from Western Athletic Conference play to meet North Texas before returning to Abilene to host UT Arlington this week. The Wildcats will take on the Mean Green at the UNT Volleyball Center at 6 p.m. Wednesday before playing the Mavericks at Moody Coliseum at 7 p.m. Saturday.
ACU will recognize Wildcats Out West against UT Arlington shortly after ACU football's 3 p.m. Homecoming matchup with Tarleton State. Dedicated to the Big Country, the night will feature various Western activities, such as games, singing and dancing. The match will be streamed for free on
WAC International.
The Wildcats were on the road in Utah last week, falling to conference frontrunner Utah Tech 3-1 on Oct. 23 before a 3-1 win at Southern Utah on Oct. 25.
Brennan Ramirez was recognized with her third Jersey Mike's A Sub Above WAC Libero of the Week honor of the season after totaling 44 digs to lead ACU in both matches.
The Wildcats remain in second in the WAC in kills (12.81), assists (11.74) and service aces (1.70) per set, ranking in the nation's top 40 for total kills (1,127) and aces (150).
Rachel Koss is second in the conference with 8.22 assists per set, while her 723 total assists lead the WAC. Ramirez ranks second with 4.06 digs per set and is tops with 357 digs.
Hannah Gonzalez landed in the top 10 for hitting percentage, kills and points per set, while
Aubrey Beaver is ranked for kills, aces and points per set.
Beaver is one kill away from the 500th of her career.
ACU is looking for its first-ever win versus North Texas, with the programs last meeting in 2021. The Mean Green are 17-5 under first-year head coach Dave Fleming with a 7-3 mark in the American Conference. North Texas won its last six matches while leading the conference in opposing hitting percentage at .161.
Kennedy Shelstead, who competed for ACU from 2017-19, is an assistant coach for North Texas. It marks the second time this season the Wildcats have met a former player on the opposing coaching staff after facing Jacey Smith and Tulsa on Sept. 15.
The Wildcats earned their first WAC victory of the season against the Mavericks in Arlington on Oct. 4, taking a 3-1 win.
Ashli Edmiston and
Annaleise Sevier totaled 33 kills, with Edmiston adding three aces and three blocks.
UT Arlington is 11-8 overall and 3-4 in WAC play, also under a first-year head coach in Tania Schatow. The Mavericks won their last two games versus Utah Tech and California Baptist at home. They lead the conference and are sixth in the country with 2.17 aces per set, while their 176 total aces rank fifth.
Mira Ledermueller, fresh off her fourth WAC Setter of the Week honor of the season, leads the conference with 8.75 digs per set. Samantha Glenn's 4.28 digs per set rank first, while four Mavericks are in the top five for aces per set, headed by Alexis Bull's 0.42.
