Wildcats sweep Eastern New Mexico, 3-0

ACU runs Moody winning streak to 30 straight matches

ABILENE -- It wasn't pretty, but the ACU Wildcats will take the win.

ACU overcame an uneven start Thursday night to sweep past Eastern New Mexico, 3-0, and remain unbeaten in Lone Star Conference South Division action.  The victory -- the 15th straight this season for the No. 14 Wildcats -- is ACU's 30th straight at Moody Coliseum.  The Wildcats haven't lost at home since a four-game loss to West Texas A&M on Oct. 11, 2003.

The Lady Buffs will get their shot at snapping several ACU streaks Saturday at 2 p.m. when the top two teams in the LSC South Division take the Moody Coliseum floor.  ACU is 15-3 overall and 4-0 in the LSC South Division, while West Texas A&M is 16-6 and 3-0 in the LSC South after a 3-0 win Thursday at Angelo State.  The match can be heard live on KYYW 1470 AM, and on the internet at www.teamline.cc.

The Wildcats, whose 15 straight wins ties the school's single-season record, hit just .083 in the first game, but won 30-26.  ACU's hitting percentage improved to .205 in the second game as it won 30-20, and then the Wildcats hit .250 in the third game to win 30-17.

ACU senior setter Lindsey Martin had 38 assists, and in the second game she had her 16th assist, which was the 5,000th assist of her career.  She is only the fourth player in LSC history to record 5,000 career assists.  Former Lady Buff Kendra Morgan is the all-time leader with 6,087, followed by Sarah Steinmetz with 5,790, Stacey Meek with 5,604, and Martin with 5,022.

The Wildcats ended the first game with a service ace by Amanda Slate, but quickly fell behind 7-5 in the second game.  However, Slate had a kill and then a service ace to get the game tied at 7-7.  The Wildcats then won 12 of the next 14 points to take an insurmountable 19-9 lead.

The Zias killed themselves in the third game with 14 errors while hitting -.098.  ACU hit a match-best .250 in the game with just four errors on 40 attacks.

Michelle Bernhardt -- the ACU all-time leader in kills and eighth on the all-time LSC list with 1,869 -- had 12 kills, while Slate had 13 and Abbie Lowry 11.  Slate had two service aces, five digs and three total blocks.  Bernhardt had 14 digs and one total block to go along with two service aces.