title image via Alabama A&M Volleyball
Aliyah McDaniel | Assistant Athletics Communications Director
The Alabama A&M University volleyball team is set to travel to Abilene, Texas for the Wildcat Classic on Thursday at Moody Coliseum. The Bulldogs will face the Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts University at Noon and the Wildcats of Abilene Christian University at 7 pm.
Alabama A&M is coming off a short break after falling 3-2 in a two-and-a-half hour five-set battle against the University of West Georgia Wolves. Saldy Amparo-Smithand Fatima Ramirez led both teams in kills, with 23 and 20 respectively. Amparo-Smith also notched the most blocks of the team, with seven, and picked up ten balls from the floor. Ramirez tied with Michell Jerez for most digs, with 15 a piece.
The Golden Eagles are returning from the Titan Invitational where they fell 0-3 in three consecutive matches against Saint Mary’s and Cal State Fullerton. Senior Trinity Freeman leads ORU in kills, with 120 on the season. Freshman Rachel Resta leads the team in assists, with 216. Sophomore DS/L Alaina Larson paces the Golden Eagles with 11 service aces. The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles met earlier this season at the Betty K. Austin Invitational on The Hill, where the Bulldogs emerged victorious, 3-0. The teams are 1-1 in overall matchups.
ACU will host its first home match of the season this weekend, after coming back from their third consecutive tournament on the road. At the most recent tournament, the Borderland Invitational, the Wildcats finished 1-2. They were swept 3-0 in both of their Friday matches against an undefeated Arizona team, and the tournament hosts, New Mexico State. ACU was able to turn things around on the final day, when the team swept Texas Southern, 3-0. Bryley Steinhilber paces the Wildcats in service aces, kills and points, with 11, 84 and 100 respectively. Senior Madeline Guffy leads the team in assists, digging 184 balls. This will be the first match up for the Wildcats and the Bulldogs.
The match at noon will be streamed live on WAC International, which is free to watch with a HUDL account. The match at 7 pm will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
