ABILENE - Abilene Christian volleyball looks to snap a three-match losing streak with a trip to Louisiana this weekend to compete in the New Orleans/Nicholls Crossover.
The Wildcats meet Alabama A&M and Grambling on Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, at David R. Stopher Gymnasium at Nicholls State University. They wrap up the tournament versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Human Performance Center at the University of New Orleans.
In a quick turnaround, ACU returns to Moody Coliseum on Monday to meet Tulsa at 3 p.m. It's Junior Cats Day, with elementary and middle school students from across the Big Country invited to cheer on ACU and learn more about the university. Select kids in attendance will have the opportunity to take on various in-match responsibilities.
The Wildcats aim to right the ship after an 0-3 showing at the SFA Tournament in Nacogdoches, Texas last weekend. ACU dropped a pair of five-set thrillers to Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin before a 3-1 loss to Louisiana.
Nonetheless, the Wildcats' weekend featured several strong individual performances, headlined by historic efforts by
Aubrey Beaver and
Rachel Koss against the Bearkats.
Beaver's 28 kills were third-most in a match in ACU's Division I era and second-most in a five-set match. She amassed 30.0 points, the third-most in a match and second-most in five sets. Koss tallied 57 assists, good for second-most in a match and the most in a five-set contest in the DI era.
Beaver totaled 54 kills over the weekend's three matches to give her 99 for the season, ranking first in the Western Athletic Conference and tied for 27th in the country. Her 3.41 kills per set rank third in the conference, as do her 4.00 points per set. Beaver's 116.0 points lead the WAC and are tied at 21st nationwide.
Koss is up to 238 assists, tops in the WAC, with 8.21 assists per set to rank second. She moved into fifth place in ACU's Division I career assists list with 595 to her name. Koss recorded double-doubles against Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin to give her a team-best four this season.
Abby Christian and Beaver each stand in the WAC's top 10 in service aces, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively. Christian matched her career high with five aces versus Louisiana and moved into sixth in the Wildcat Division I ranks with 70 in her career. Christian and Beaver have each notched 13 aces this season.
Erika Gustafson's 1.35 blocks per set have cemented her in second place in the conference, with her 10 solo blocks leading the WAC. The Montana State transfer is one of just six players in the country with double-digit solo blocks.
Brennan Ramirez finds herself in third in the WAC with 3.59 digs per set and is tied for the lead with 104 digs this season.
Hannah Gonzalez ranks in the top 10 for hitting percentage (.219) and points per set (2.86).
Alabama A&M carries a 5-2 record into the weekend and sits at the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings after being picked to finish eighth in the league. Briana Smith was named the SWAC Co-Setter of the Week on Sept. 3, while Rayishon Jackman earned Co-Newcomer of the Week honors.
Grambling was tabbed to finish seventh in the SWAC and is searching for its first win of the season at 0-4, as is Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 0-6, who was selected 10th in the SWAC preseason poll. The Wildcats are 10-0 all-time versus SWAC programs.
After an 0-2 start to the season, Tulsa has won its last four matches, featuring wins over Southeastern Conference programs Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Golden Hurricane take on Texas State and Incarnate Word at the Texas State Tournament this weekend.
