Todd Sets Freshman Kills Record, Christian Tops Aces Leaderboard Versus Lions

Thursday, September 24

Florence, Ala.

6 p.m.

Abilene Christian

8-5,0-0UAC

North Alabama

11-3,0-0UAC

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Abilene Christian	16	27	26	16	12	2
North Ala.	25	25	24	25	15	3

Box Score (PDF)ACU Match Notes

Alyssa Todd delivers an attack in ACU's matchup with Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. on Sept. 13, 2026.

Photo by: Luke White

Todd Sets Freshman Kills Record, Christian Tops Aces Leaderboard Versus Lions

9/24/2026 10:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Luke White

FLORENCE, Ala. — Abilene Christian volleyball suffered a 3-2 loss to North Alabama in its United Athletic Conference opener at CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall on Thursday. Alyssa Todd shined with a 21-kill performance, establishing the Wildcats' Division I record for kills by a freshman with the most since 2008.

ACU faces a quick turnaround as it looks to bounce back against West Georgia at 12 p.m. (CT) Saturday. The Wildcats meet the Wolves at The Coliseum in Carrollton, Ga. on ESPN+.

Abby Christian also closed in on history with a third-set service ace, giving her 103 for her career and tying for the most in ACU's DI record book. She joins Madeline Guffy atop the leaderboard, who suited up for the Wildcats from 2022-24. The senior Christian also tallied 21 digs, her most since her sophomore campaign in 2024.

Todd continued her freshman crusade, tying for the most kills in a UAC match this season with the most by an ACU freshman since Jennie Hutt had 23 versus UT Permian Basin in 2008. Todd previously became the fastest Wildcat freshman in the DI era to reach 100 career kills, doing so in just 10 games. She chipped in a career-best eight digs on her big night.

Senior Alexis Strong also came away with 12 kills, her most since 2024. Annaleise Sevier and Avery Thaler combined for 17 kills and three blocks.

Rachel Koss and Hannah Gonzalez were a dynamic duo at the net with four blocks apiece, marking a career high for the senior Koss. She registered her second straight double-double and third of the season with 45 assists and 13 digs.

Brennan Ramirez and Maddie Finnegan each recorded a pair of aces, with Ramirez following with 28 digs, one shy of her career high. She matched her career best with seven assists.

North Alabama grabbed a 4-3 lead in the opening set and didn't fall behind the rest of the way en route to a 25-16 win. Todd paced ACU with three kills on five swings.

The second set was a back-and-forth affair with 11 ties and four lead changes as both teams traded points. The Lions reached set point at 24-21 on the precipice of a two-set advantage, but the Wildcats fought back with four straight points, including two Todd kills. Knotted at 25, ACU used kills by Todd and Gonzalez to clinch a 27-25 win. Todd and Strong had five kills apiece, while Thaler added three kills and a block. Koss set them up with 13 assists.

Another roller coaster ensured in the third set with 12 ties and eight lead changes. North Alabama found an early edge at 11-6, but a 7-1 ACU rally made it a 13-12 game. The Wildcats and Lions reached a tie at 24, with a Todd kill and a block featuring Koss and Gonzalez sealing a 27-25 victory. Todd delivered another five-kill set, as did Sevier. Gonzalez had a hand in each of ACU's three blocks, and Koss had 14 assists.

The teams battled to eight ties and three lead changes in the fourth set, but an 11-1 North Alabama streak built a cushion. The Wildcats got back in it at 19-16 by scoring seven of the next eight points, but the Lions took control for a 25-17 win. Todd and Strong combined for seven kills.

North Alabama got off to a 7-3 start in the decisive fifth set, but a 4-1 ACU run got the visitors within a point at 8-7. The Lions held off the Wildcats for a 15-12 match-clinching victory. Todd stayed hot until the end with four kills in the shortened set.