| gobuffsgo.com |
|
History Made In WTAMU's Loss To ACU Thursday
Sept. 30, 2004
The West Texas A&M University volleyball team did something Thursday night it hadn't done since 1993 and another thing they hadn't done since 1995, as the Lady Buffs were swept by Abilene Christian University, 3-0 (19-30, 22-30, 22-30), in WTAMU's Lone Star Conference South Division opener at Abilene, Texas.
It snaps WTAMU's 22-match winning streak vs. ACU dating back to 1993, and is the first time that the Lady Buffs had been swept by an LSC Opponent since 1995, when WTAMU lost to Eastern New Mexico.
The loss snaps the Lady Buffs' three-match win streak overall, as they are now 11-8 on the year, and open LSC South play at 0-1.
ACU improves to 15-5, running its winning streak to nine-straight, as the Wildcats have now swept their last three matches, having only dropped 11 games in the month of September.
The Wildcats are the top threat to unseat the Lady Buffs from their throne as LSC South Champions, as the Wildcats were tabbed No. 2 in the LSC South Preseason Poll behind the Lady Buffs, collecting one more first-place vote, but one less point.
Thursday night, ACU strongly staked their case for the favorite for this year's LSC South crown, as the Wildcats limited WTAMU to .066 hitting percentage for the match, including -.061 in the opening game.
The Lady Buffs took a 15-11 lead in game one, before the Wildcats stormed back with six-straight points and WTAMU never recovered.
In game two, WTAMU's only lead was at 1-0, while ACU's biggest lead was the last margin of the game, 30-22.
Game three was much of the same, as the Wildcats again led from start-to-finish, as the Lady Buffs tied it at 6-6, only to see ACU open at 17-10 lead and WTAMU never closed the difference to anything under six points.
The Lady Buffs didn't have an attacker in double-digit kills for just the second time this season, as sophomore middle blocker Megan Spivey led WTAMU with eight kills.
Freshman setter Erin Houlihan, tabbed the LSC South Setter of the Week Tuesday, had 24 assists, while junior libero Brittani Bell posted a team-high 13 digs.
One of the bright spots for WTAMU Thursday night was the return of junior middle blocker Cynthia Carter from injury. Carter tallied five kills in her return to the lineup.
ACU was led by 16 kills from Amanda Slate, while Lindsey Martin doled out 52 assists.
WTAMU has little time to rest on its laurels, as the Lady Buffs continue their road trip to San Angelo, Texas to tack on Angelo State University, who defeated WTAMU last year on the Rambelles home court, snapping the Lady Buffs' NCAA-II record for 77-consecutive victories vs. conference opponents. ASU edged Eastern New Mexico, 3-2, Thursday night to improve to 14-4 on the season, having won seven of the last eight matches.
The Lady Buffs return home to play at "The Box" for most of the month of October. WTAMU
opens a nine-match homestand by playing host to the BritKare Lady Buff Challenge beginning Thursday,
Oct. 7, hosting Wayland Baptist University, St. Mary's University, Oklahoma Panhandle
State University, Texas A&M University-Commerce and Eastern New Mexico.
|
