Wildcats take hard-earned split

ACU rallies on Saturday for wins over Sonoma State, No. 19 Mankato

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- The ACU Wildcats rallied for a pair of victories Saturday as they garnered a hard-earned four-match split at the State Farm Insurance Coyote Classic.

ACU dropped both its Friday matches -- to No. 7 Cal State-San Bernardino and No. 25 Fort Hays State (Kan.) -- before rallying Saturday to beat both Sonoma State (Calif.) and No. 19 Minnesota State-Mankato.  Both Friday losses were in three games, but ACU (5-4) came back to beat Sonoma State in five games and Mankato in four games.

ACU junior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt finished the four-match event with 66 kills to earn all-tournament honors for the second straight week.  Last weekend in Canyon, she was named all-tournament at the First General Services West  Texas A&M Lady Buff Classic as ACU finished 2-2.

She saved her best match for the final one as she hammered down 22 kills and collected 13 digs as ACU knocked off Minnesota State-Mankato, 30-25, 26-30, 30-27, 30-17.

Earlier Saturday, junior middle blocker Amanda Slate -- who had 52 kills and hit .327 during the weekend -- had 21 kills and a pair of block assists as ACU held off Sonoma State, 30-28, 21-30, 33-31, 25-30, 18-16.  Senior libero Kellen Morrow had 19 digs and three services aces in the match, while Lindsey Martin dished out 58 assists.

The Wildcats will return to action Tuesday at 7 p.m. when it hosts Lubbock Christian University at Moody Coliseum.