ACU to fact tough test in California

Three of four opponents are ranked in nation's top 25

CSU-San Bernardino Athletics Home Page

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- No one will ever be able to say the 2004 ACU volleyball team ducked any challenges, especially after seeing the field for this weekend's tournament at Cal State-San Bernadino.

The Wildcats -- 3-2 and ranked No. 28 in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association -- will play three nationally ranked teams at the State Farm Insurance Coyote Classic, including No. 7 Cal State-San Bernardino.  ACU will also play 19th-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato and No. 25 Fort Hays State (Kan.).  The Wildcats' only unranked opponent in the field is Sonoma State (Calif.).

The Wildcats' four opponents in the classicare a combined 13-3 after the first weekend of regular-season play, including a 4-0 record byFort Hays State.

"The four teams we're going to play will give us a tremendous look at where we're at right now as a team and where we need to go," ACU head coach Brek Horn said.  "We won't face a tougher four-match stretch during the rest of our season than we will this weekend. It's going to be tough, but we're looking forward to seeing how we match up against some of the best teams in the country."

The Wildcats will begin the weekend with a Friday morning match against the host team from Cal State-San Bernardino, which is 3-1 and ranked No. 7 in the nation.  The Coyotes reached the NCAA Division II national tournament semifinals last season, but only two starters return from that team.

The Coyotes are led by Brianna Harris, who has 61 kills after four matches, and Cathleen Price, who has 45 kills in four matches. San Bernardino's lone loss through the first four matches came last weekend to No. 5 Barry (Fla.).

ACU's other Friday match will be against Fort Hays State, which is 4-0 after opening its season last weekend at the Rockhurst (Mo.) Tournament.  Fort Hays knocked off Drury (Mo.) and Northwest Missouri State, as well as Lone Star Conference members Texas Woman's and Cameron.

Sonoma State is 3-1 in the early part of the season, with its only loss coming to No. 5 BYU-Hawaii, and Minnesota State-Mankato is also 3-1 with its only loss coming to unranked Central Washington.

ACU is led by junior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt, who has 79 kills and is hitting .283 in the early going of the season.  Bernhardt is also second on the team with 52 digs.  Junior middle blocker Amanda Slate has 51 kills and is hitting .340 to go along with 16 total blocks (13 solo).  In Tuesday's three-game win over Wayland Baptist, Slate hit .750 as she led the Wildcats with 16 kills (20 total attacks).

Freshman outside hitter Abbie Lowry and junior rightside hitter Ashlee Motola each have 38 kills, while senior middle blocker Sophia Kindred has 28 kills.  Junior setter Lindsey Martin leads the club with 207 assists (12.18 per game), while senior libero Kellen Morrow leads the Wildcats with 60 digs.