Thursday, October 22
Abilene, Texas
6 p.m.
Abilene Christian
14-7,6-3UAC
3
vs
1
North Alabama
16-6,6-3UAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Ala. | 17 | 25 | 17 | 12 | 1 |
| Abilene Christian | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Kate Evans
10/22/2026 10:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ABILENE — Abilene Christian volleyball collected a Division I program-record 22.0 blocks in its 3-1 win over North Alabama at Moody Coliseum on Thursday night. The Wildcats tied for the third-most blocks nationally in a match this season behind a career-high 11 from Hadlee Welch and 10 rejections off the hands of Avery Thaler.
Welch tied for third-most blocks in a match in ACU's DI era and the second-most in four sets. Thaler drew for seventh-most total blocks and third-most in four sets. The Wildcats picked up their 14th win of the year, their most in a season since 2011.
ACU improved to 8-2 at home with its seventh straight win at Moody Coliseum, its longest home winning streak since 2018. The Wildcats ascended to 6-3 in United Athletic Conference play, its best conference record since 2020-21. ACU looks to continue its streak at home when it hosts West Georgia at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Wildcats limited the Lions to an .034 hitting percentage while attacking at a .264 clip themselves. They added seven service aces, their most in a UAC contest this season.
Alyssa Todd powered the attack with 17 kills at a remarkable .448 hitting percentage with a solo block and four block assists, good for a career-best five blocks. When ACU and North Alabama met on Sept. 24, she registered 21 kills, the most by a Wildcat freshman since 2008. Aubrey Beaver followed with 11 kills at a .286 clip with a pair of blocks.
Thaler complemented her defensive effort with nine kills at a .421 percentage. Hannah Gonzalez stands on the cusp of history with 999.5 career points following a seven-kill, eight-block assist effort. She chipped in an ace and is set to become the fifth ACU player in DI history to reach 1,000 points.
Welch added four kills with her solo block and four block assists. Rachel Koss delivered a career-high five blocks alongside 40 assists. Brennan Ramirez provided 23 digs and an ace. Izabelle Larson and Abby Christian registered two aces apiece, with Larson earning hers within the match's first five points. Maddie Finnegan rounded out the effort with an ace and nine digs.
The Wildcats set the tone for the opening set by scoring the first five points of the match and nine of the first 10, featuring Larson's pair of aces. A 4-1 run gave ACU a 15-6 lead at the media timeout. The Wildcats kept the Lions at bay the rest of the way for a 25-17 victory featuring 4.5 blocks. Todd, Gonzalez and Beaver tallied three kills apiece, while Todd and Gonzalez totaled five blocks.
Both teams traded points to begin the second set before North Alabama rebounded with a 7-1 run to grab a 15-8 advantage. Its lead grew to as much as 22-13, but the Wildcats engineered an 8-1 rally to get within a couple points at 23-21. The Lions recovered to score two of the last three points and pick up a 25-22 win. Todd fueled ACU with eight kills at .600 and a solo block. Thaler followed with five kills and four blocks, with Koss providing 12 assists.
The Wildcats bounced back in Set 3, scoring six points in a row to take a 10-3 edge. North Alabama got within a couple points at 12-10, but a 9-2 streak extended ACU's lead to 21-12. The Wildcats cruised the rest of the way to a 25-17 victory. ACU tallied just nine kills but blocked nine attacks between six players. Gonzalez had four rejections, while Thaler collected three kills and three blocks. Welch added two kills and three blocks.
ACU dashed to a 25-12 win to seal a victory in the fourth set. The Wildcats jumped to a 9-3 advantage and a 15-9 lead at the midway point. An 8-1 run stretched the advantage to 22-10. Todd and Beaver had four kills and a block each, while Gonzalez tacked on three kills, an ace and a block.
Welch tied for third-most blocks in a match in ACU's DI era and the second-most in four sets. Thaler drew for seventh-most total blocks and third-most in four sets. The Wildcats picked up their 14th win of the year, their most in a season since 2011.
ACU improved to 8-2 at home with its seventh straight win at Moody Coliseum, its longest home winning streak since 2018. The Wildcats ascended to 6-3 in United Athletic Conference play, its best conference record since 2020-21. ACU looks to continue its streak at home when it hosts West Georgia at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Wildcats limited the Lions to an .034 hitting percentage while attacking at a .264 clip themselves. They added seven service aces, their most in a UAC contest this season.
Alyssa Todd powered the attack with 17 kills at a remarkable .448 hitting percentage with a solo block and four block assists, good for a career-best five blocks. When ACU and North Alabama met on Sept. 24, she registered 21 kills, the most by a Wildcat freshman since 2008. Aubrey Beaver followed with 11 kills at a .286 clip with a pair of blocks.
Thaler complemented her defensive effort with nine kills at a .421 percentage. Hannah Gonzalez stands on the cusp of history with 999.5 career points following a seven-kill, eight-block assist effort. She chipped in an ace and is set to become the fifth ACU player in DI history to reach 1,000 points.
Welch added four kills with her solo block and four block assists. Rachel Koss delivered a career-high five blocks alongside 40 assists. Brennan Ramirez provided 23 digs and an ace. Izabelle Larson and Abby Christian registered two aces apiece, with Larson earning hers within the match's first five points. Maddie Finnegan rounded out the effort with an ace and nine digs.
The Wildcats set the tone for the opening set by scoring the first five points of the match and nine of the first 10, featuring Larson's pair of aces. A 4-1 run gave ACU a 15-6 lead at the media timeout. The Wildcats kept the Lions at bay the rest of the way for a 25-17 victory featuring 4.5 blocks. Todd, Gonzalez and Beaver tallied three kills apiece, while Todd and Gonzalez totaled five blocks.
Both teams traded points to begin the second set before North Alabama rebounded with a 7-1 run to grab a 15-8 advantage. Its lead grew to as much as 22-13, but the Wildcats engineered an 8-1 rally to get within a couple points at 23-21. The Lions recovered to score two of the last three points and pick up a 25-22 win. Todd fueled ACU with eight kills at .600 and a solo block. Thaler followed with five kills and four blocks, with Koss providing 12 assists.
The Wildcats bounced back in Set 3, scoring six points in a row to take a 10-3 edge. North Alabama got within a couple points at 12-10, but a 9-2 streak extended ACU's lead to 21-12. The Wildcats cruised the rest of the way to a 25-17 victory. ACU tallied just nine kills but blocked nine attacks between six players. Gonzalez had four rejections, while Thaler collected three kills and three blocks. Welch added two kills and three blocks.
ACU dashed to a 25-12 win to seal a victory in the fourth set. The Wildcats jumped to a 9-3 advantage and a 15-9 lead at the midway point. An 8-1 run stretched the advantage to 22-10. Todd and Beaver had four kills and a block each, while Gonzalez tacked on three kills, an ace and a block.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
UNA
ACU
Kills
43
49
Errors
38
17
Attempts
147
121
Hitting %
.034
.264
Points
52.0
78.0
Assists
41
46
Aces
4
7
Blocks
5
22
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
10
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
8
Tuesday, October 20
Sunday, October 18
Tuesday, October 13
Monday, October 12
