ABILENE - On Monday ACU received votes for the first time this season in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll. Also the first NCAA Regional Rankings were released as the Wildcats sit at No. 7 in the South Central Region. Central Missouri is the top team in the region followed rival West Texas A&M. The MIAA boasts six teams as Emporia State, Washburn and Truman all sit ahead of ACU. Rounding out the last three spots in the region are Missouri Southern, Incarnate Word, and Southeastern Oklahoma.
The Wildcats will hit the road to Oklahoma this weekend, as they will face Central Oklahoma on Thursday night and Southwestern Oklahoma on Saturday. ACU is 29-6 dating back to the last 13 matches of the 2008 season. Fourth year head coach Kellen Mock, is the second fastest coach in ACU volleyball history to reach 75 career victories, as she is 76-39 in just over three seasons.
Junior Shawna Hines continues to dominate the net leading NCAA Division II volleyball in total blocks (118) and blocks per set (1.62). Hines and the Wildcats also lead the Lone Star Conference in total blocks, blocks per set, and opponent hitting percentage at .128.
Junior setter Ijeoma Moronu who is third in assists has helped pace the Wildcats as they also rank second in assist per set and hitting percentage. Also Moronu was honored by the LSC for the third time this season and she was named Co-Setter of the Week.
Also emerging as a solid outside hitter has been sophomore Jennie Hutt. Hutt recorded 13 kills on Tuesday night in a non-conference match against Dallas Baptist putting her over the 200 mark on the season, 13 behind team leader Jordan Schilling.
ACU is currently tied in second place in the Lone Star Conference with Midwestern State at 4-1 on the season. They sit behind conference leader West Texas A&M who is ranked sixth in the AVCA Poll at 20-3 on the season and 6-0 in the LSC.
