ABILENE -- The best season in the history of the ACU volleyball program netted resulted in three of the Wildcats' seniors being named first team NCAA all-Southwest Region by Daktronics.

Middle blocker Amanda Slate, setter Lindsey Martin and outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt were all named first team all-region in voting done by the region's Sports Information Directors.  First team members will now move on to the national ballot and are eligible for all-America honors.  No ACU player has ever been voted all-America.

All three players are up for all-region honors through the American Volleyball Coaches' Association, and that should team should be released next week.  All three players were named first team all-Lone Star Conference on Monday with Slate earning her second straight league MVP honor.

The trio of seniors -- as well as senior rightside hitter Ashlee Motola -- have led ACU to a 29-3 record and No. 11 national ranking, the first national ranking in program history.  The Wildcats have won a school-record 29 straight matches, which is the 16th-longest such streak in Division II history.  And last Saturday in Abilene, the Wildcats won their second straight LSC championship with Bernhardt earning tournament MVP honors.

Bernhardt enters Friday's regional tournament match against Central Oklahoma with 2,083 career kills, which is the second-best total in LSC history and 20th-best total in NCAA Division II history.  Her career mark of 4.39 kills per game is tied for 24th all-time in NCAA Division II history, and she ranks eighth all-time in Division II history in total attacks with 5,327.

Slate has 1,508 career kills heading into Friday's match, making her only the fourth player to record 1,500 kills as a Wildcat.  She led the LSC in hitting percentage (.358) and has hit .300 or better in 18 of ACU's 32 matches, .400 or better in four matches, .500 or better in eight matches, and .600 or better in two matches.  She ranks in the top 20 in the nation in hitting percentage.  She led the LSC in service aces with 67, and she has a career-best 133 total blocks on the season.

Martin is completing one of the best careers in ACU volleyball history this season as she enters the regional tournament with 5,663 career assists, putting her in the top 25 all-time in Division II history.  Her career per assists-per-game average 12.58 is sixth in Division II history.  She has four of the top seven single-season assist totals in school history.