LSC South opener moved to Moody Coliseum

Hurricane Rita forces Lady Javelinas out of Kingsville

ABILENE -- The ACU volleyball team was scheduled to have opened defense of its Lone Star Conference South Division championship on the road Thursday night, but the Wildcats will instead open at Moody Coliseum because of mounting concerns regarding Hurricane Rita.

The Wildcats were to have been along the Texas Gulf Coast to play at Texas A&M-Kingsville at 7 p.m. Thursday in the LSC South opener for both teams.  That match, however, has been moved to ACU's Moody Coliseum, and is still set for 7 p.m. Thursday.  The Lady Javelinas were also to have hosted Angelo State on Saturday, but will instead play at Angelo State on Saturday and then await word on when they can return home.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Hurricane Rita was a Category 2 hurricane, but forecasters predicted that it would be a Category 3 hurricane by the time it is slated to make landfall early Saturday morning.  The predicted landfall area is anywhere from the Texas/Mexico border to just west of the already-battered city of New Orleans.  However, officials in Galveston -- which is about 180 miles from Kingsville -- are considering a mandatory evacuation of that city in advance of the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Rita.

The Wildcats are 10-3 on the season and ranked No. 15 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches' Association top 25 poll.  ACU has won 10 straight matches after starting 0-3, including three last weekend at the LSC Crossover Volleyball Tournament at Moody Coliseum.

ACU was 4-0 at home last week to push its school-record home court winning streak to 26 straight matches.  The Wildcats haven't lost at Moody Coliseum since a four-game loss to West Texas A&M on Oct. 11, 2003.  Although Thursday's match has been moved to Abilene, the Wildcats will still go to Stephenville on Saturday to take on Tarleton State at 2 p.m. in another LSC South match.

To make up for missing Thursday's trip to Kingsville, ACU will play Tarleton State at home on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., and then go to Kingsville to take on the Lady Javelinas on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m.  The match against Tarleton State is now the Wildcats' last regular-season home match, and could be the last time the Wildcats play at home in 2005 unless they win the LSC South and host the conference post-season tournament or host the NCAA Division II Southwest Region Tournament in mid-November.