Saturday, August 29
Abilene, Texas
11 a.m.
Abilene Christian
1-1,0-0WAC
1
vs
3
Cal State Bakersfield
2-1,0-0Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSU Bakersfield | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 3 |
| Abilene Christian | 14 | 20 | 25 | 18 | 1 |
Photo by: Kate Evans
Wildcats Fall to Roadrunners, Mean Green to Close ACU Invitational
8/29/2026 10:01:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ABILENE — Abilene Christian volleyball dropped a pair of matches to wrap up the ACU Invitational at Moody Coliseum on Saturday. The Wildcats fell to Cal State Bakersfield and North Texas, each by a 3-1 decision, to close the season's opening weekend.
ACU hits the road for a trio of games in Houston next week. The Wildcats meet the Houston Cougars at 6:30 p.m. Thursday before facing Houston Christian and Texas Southern on Friday.
Rachel Koss and Brennan Ramirez each put together big weekends and landed on the All-Tournament Team. Koss dished out 99 assists, averaging 8.25 per set, alongside 16 digs. She tallied six kills and an ace for 7.0 total points. Ramirez was a force on defense, tallying 56 digs for 4.67 per set with 14 assists and four aces.
ACU Invitational All-Tournament Team
Westmont transfer Maddie Finnegan powered the Wildcats with a team-best 13 kills alongside seven digs, while Alyssa Todd continued her hot start with 10 kills. The freshman has 22 kills through two games. Annaleise Sevier, making her season debut, tallied 10 kills and had a hand in two blocks.
Rachel Koss' strong passing was on display with 35 assists, giving her 75 through two games. It's her most assists in a two-game period since collecting 85 last September. Brennan Ramirez had 18 digs for 44 through two games, her most over a pair of matches since last October.
Hannah Gonzalez notched a pair of solo blocks and a block assist. She's the Wildcats' Division I leader with 59 career solo blocks. With four kills, the senior Gonzalez surpassed 600 in her career. Freshmen Pierson Smith and Jayla Jackson made their collegiate debuts, with Smith dishing out four assists.
The Roadrunners established themselves from the get-go to grab a 13-4 lead in the first set. Back-to-back kills by Aubrey Beaver got the Wildcats within five before CSUB ended the frame on a 7-1 run for a 25-14 win. Each of Beaver's five kills came in the opening frame at a .444 hitting percentage.
The second set was tighter as Finnegan came to life for ACU with six kills on 13 attempts. Gonzalez totaled 4.5 points on two kills, a solo block and a block assist. The Wildcats remained within striking distance of the Roadrunners before CSUB closed out a 25-20 victory.
ACU fended off a sweep in the third set as Finnegan, Todd and Sevier combined for 13 of the team's 15 kills. Todd committed no errors with a .500 hitting percentage, while Finnegan and Sevier each attacked at a .300 clip or better. Koss set them up for success with 13 assists. Both squads battled to a tie at 21 before the Wildcats finished strong with a 5-1 rally en route to a 25-22 victory. The set featured 11 ties and four lead changes.
Six Wildcats registered a kill in the fourth frame, paced by Todd with four, while Koss reached 10 assists. ACU again kept CSUB within reach before a 5-1 streak sealed the match for the Roadrunners with a 25-18 victory.
Game 2: North Texas 3, ACU 1
Beaver fueled the Wildcats' offense with 14 kills at a .286 clip alongside three block assists and five digs. Hadlee Welch added eight kills and had a hand in a team-best five blocks. Hannah Gonzalez rounded out the attack with seven kills, four block assists and an ace. Senior Alexis Strong made her season debut in the second set and delivered six kills at an excellent .455 hitting percentage. Koss had 24 assists.
ACU found itself behind early in the opening frame, but a 6-0 rally put it in front, 7-6. Smith's first career ace capped a 4-0 streak and moved the Wildcats ahead, 12-8. The Mean Green battled back to force a tie at 17 before closing on an 8-1 run for a 25-18 win.
North Texas took another early lead in the following set, but ACU again had an answer, grabbing an 8-7 advantage. The Mean Green controlled the tempo the rest of the way in a 25-14 victory. Welch and Beaver notched a trio of kills apiece, while Koss distributed seven assists.
For the second match in a row, the Wildcats found their footing in the third set as Beaver led the way. The versatile senior logged six kills and got a hand on two blocks. Koss and Smith combined for 13 assists. ACU posted a .281 hitting percentage and blocked three shots. It withstood a 10-1 North Texas run that put the visitors ahead, 15-8.
The Wildcats got within two points before the Mean Green made it a 21-16 game. ACU ended the frame on fire with a 9-2 rally, picking up a 25-23 victory.
North Texas rounded out the match with a 25-13 win in the fourth set.
ACU hits the road for a trio of games in Houston next week. The Wildcats meet the Houston Cougars at 6:30 p.m. Thursday before facing Houston Christian and Texas Southern on Friday.
Rachel Koss and Brennan Ramirez each put together big weekends and landed on the All-Tournament Team. Koss dished out 99 assists, averaging 8.25 per set, alongside 16 digs. She tallied six kills and an ace for 7.0 total points. Ramirez was a force on defense, tallying 56 digs for 4.67 per set with 14 assists and four aces.
ACU Invitational All-Tournament Team
- Alessandra Romo, L, North Texas
- Addison Achilles, MB, North Texas
- Jahniya Jackson, OH, North Texas
- Analiese Gagliano, L/DS, Cal State Bakersfield
- Suelen Lima, OH, Cal State Bakersfield
- Rachel Koss, S, ACU
- Brennan Ramirez, L, ACU
Westmont transfer Maddie Finnegan powered the Wildcats with a team-best 13 kills alongside seven digs, while Alyssa Todd continued her hot start with 10 kills. The freshman has 22 kills through two games. Annaleise Sevier, making her season debut, tallied 10 kills and had a hand in two blocks.
Rachel Koss' strong passing was on display with 35 assists, giving her 75 through two games. It's her most assists in a two-game period since collecting 85 last September. Brennan Ramirez had 18 digs for 44 through two games, her most over a pair of matches since last October.
Hannah Gonzalez notched a pair of solo blocks and a block assist. She's the Wildcats' Division I leader with 59 career solo blocks. With four kills, the senior Gonzalez surpassed 600 in her career. Freshmen Pierson Smith and Jayla Jackson made their collegiate debuts, with Smith dishing out four assists.
The Roadrunners established themselves from the get-go to grab a 13-4 lead in the first set. Back-to-back kills by Aubrey Beaver got the Wildcats within five before CSUB ended the frame on a 7-1 run for a 25-14 win. Each of Beaver's five kills came in the opening frame at a .444 hitting percentage.
The second set was tighter as Finnegan came to life for ACU with six kills on 13 attempts. Gonzalez totaled 4.5 points on two kills, a solo block and a block assist. The Wildcats remained within striking distance of the Roadrunners before CSUB closed out a 25-20 victory.
ACU fended off a sweep in the third set as Finnegan, Todd and Sevier combined for 13 of the team's 15 kills. Todd committed no errors with a .500 hitting percentage, while Finnegan and Sevier each attacked at a .300 clip or better. Koss set them up for success with 13 assists. Both squads battled to a tie at 21 before the Wildcats finished strong with a 5-1 rally en route to a 25-22 victory. The set featured 11 ties and four lead changes.
Six Wildcats registered a kill in the fourth frame, paced by Todd with four, while Koss reached 10 assists. ACU again kept CSUB within reach before a 5-1 streak sealed the match for the Roadrunners with a 25-18 victory.
Game 2: North Texas 3, ACU 1
Beaver fueled the Wildcats' offense with 14 kills at a .286 clip alongside three block assists and five digs. Hadlee Welch added eight kills and had a hand in a team-best five blocks. Hannah Gonzalez rounded out the attack with seven kills, four block assists and an ace. Senior Alexis Strong made her season debut in the second set and delivered six kills at an excellent .455 hitting percentage. Koss had 24 assists.
ACU found itself behind early in the opening frame, but a 6-0 rally put it in front, 7-6. Smith's first career ace capped a 4-0 streak and moved the Wildcats ahead, 12-8. The Mean Green battled back to force a tie at 17 before closing on an 8-1 run for a 25-18 win.
North Texas took another early lead in the following set, but ACU again had an answer, grabbing an 8-7 advantage. The Mean Green controlled the tempo the rest of the way in a 25-14 victory. Welch and Beaver notched a trio of kills apiece, while Koss distributed seven assists.
For the second match in a row, the Wildcats found their footing in the third set as Beaver led the way. The versatile senior logged six kills and got a hand on two blocks. Koss and Smith combined for 13 assists. ACU posted a .281 hitting percentage and blocked three shots. It withstood a 10-1 North Texas run that put the visitors ahead, 15-8.
The Wildcats got within two points before the Mean Green made it a 21-16 game. ACU ended the frame on fire with a 9-2 rally, picking up a 25-23 victory.
North Texas rounded out the match with a 25-13 win in the fourth set.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
CSUB
ACU
Kills
53
48
Errors
19
27
Attempts
142
143
Hitting %
.239
.147
Points
70.0
55.0
Assists
52
45
Aces
5
3
Blocks
12
4
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Sunday, August 30
Tuesday, August 25
Monday, August 24
Tuesday, August 04
