BEAUMONT, Texas - Abilene Christian volleyball closes out nonconference play in East Texas this weekend as it competes in the Lamar Invitational at McDonald Gym. The Wildcats meet Texas Southern at 10 a.m. Friday before closing the day with Cal State Fullerton at 4 p.m. ACU wraps up the tournament versus host Lamar at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Wildcats will remain on the road for their nonconference finale as they head to Commerce, Texas to meet East Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Field House.
ACU enters the weekend on the heels of a 2-1 showing at the New Orleans/Nicholls Crossover in Louisiana last week. Following a 3-1 loss to Alabama A&M, the Wildcats bounced back with sweeps of Grambling and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In its last time out, ACU fell to Tulsa by a 3-0 decision at Moody Coliseum on Sept. 15.
The Wildcats were stellar from the service line in their victories in the bayou, totaling 23 service aces against Grambling and UAPB. ACU's 12 aces versus the Golden Lions were the second-most in a match in the program's Division I era and tied for the most in a three-set match.
Hannah Gonzalez collected a career-high four aces against UAPB, while
Becca Siedenburg collected four versus Grambling.
As part of a productive Friday, Gonzalez recorded a career-best 15 kills against Alabama A&M and swung at a .692 clip with 10 kills versus Grambling, reaching double-digit kills for the sixth time this season. She tallied nine kills against both UAPB and Tulsa, including a .471 hitting percentage versus the Golden Lions. ACU's .500 hitting percentage on Saturday is a season high.
Ashli Edmiston delivered her top two performances of the season last week, recording five kills each against Grambling and Tulsa. She added a season-high three digs versus Alabama A&M.
Through 11 matches this season, the Wildcats find themselves in the nation's top five in several categories, including the fifth-most aces (84) and 10th-most kills (523). ACU's 482 assists rank 12th in the country. Within the Western Athletic Conference, the Wildcats rank in the top three in hitting percentage (.199), kills per set (12.45), assists per set (11.48) and aces per set (2.00).
Rachel Koss powers the conference with 349 assists and ranks second with 8.31 assists per set as ACU's go-to setter.
Abby Christian is the leader behind the team's serving efforts, as her 0.49 aces per set stand in third place in the WAC.
Brennan Ramirez ranks third in digs per set with 3.74.
Gonzalez and
Aubrey Beaver have displayed their versatility in landing in the conference's top 10 in a number of statistics. Gonzalez ranks eighth in hitting percentage (.261), kills per set (2.57), blocks per set (0.90) and points per set (3.30). Beaver's 3.23 kills per set and 3.74 points per set are fourth-most while ranking seventh in aces per set (0.38).
At 1-9, Texas Southern is searching for its second win of the season following a sweep of Oral Roberts on Sept. 11. The Southwestern Athletic Conference's head coaches and sports information directors tabbed the Tigers to finish ninth in the 12-team conference's preseason poll. A win over Texas Southern would improve ACU to 13-1 all-time versus SWAC programs.
Cal State Fullerton is led by a defense registering 14.19 digs per set to pace the Big West Conference and a .196 opposing hitting percentage that ranks third. Hannah Hass and Zariah Crosby each rank in the conference's top 10 in hitting percentage, while Mia Feldhaus' 3.28 digs per set are good for eighth.
With 12 matches under its belt, Lamar has made moves on a national level, with its 111.5 blocks ranking fourth and 532 kills good for ninth. The Cardinals' 16.65 digs lead the Southland Conference and rank 16th in the country. Their opposing hitting percentage (.173) and blocks per set (2.28) are in the top 100 nationally and the conference's top three.
East Texas A&M's Jade Washington paces the Southland in digs per set (5.85), while Grace Campbell ranks fourth in kills per set (3.52) and fifth in points per set (3.83).
