After falling to Frank Phillips College in five-sets (25-16, 25-23, 25-20, 25-17, 17-15) on Wednesday in the conference opener, the Lady Badgers rebounded with a rally to beat Clarendon on Saturday, 25-20, 25-27, 25-21, 25-17, 15-10.
“I’m happy with the progress we make each week,” said AC first-year head coach Amanda Black. “There is a maturity this team continues to strive for. They are an extremely hard-working group that like to have fun and compete. Every player on this team, regardless of their role on game day, gets down and dirty in practice to fight each day and make the gym better. It’s a great accomplishment to have the first conference win in college history under our belt now.”
AC is off to a 14-5 start overall to the 2022 season and 1-1 in the WJAC. Against Clarendon College, Skylar Rivers had 10 kills with 11 digs for a double-double. Randall graduates Desiree Sotelo and Taylor Irving had superb performances. Sotelo knocked down eight kills with 20 digs, and Irving hit the floor for 14 digs.
The Lady Badgers have two big home games at the WTAMU Fieldhouse this week. AC will play host to No. 9-ranked New Mexico Military Institute at 6 p.m. Wednesday, and then No. 8 Midland College at 2 p.m. Saturday.
WT opens LSC action with a pair of wins
It was the perfect start to the Lone Star Conference portion of the schedule for the No. 17-ranked West Texas A&M volleyball team on Friday and Saturday at the WTAMU Fieldhouse.
The Lady Buffs opened conference action by downing Dallas Baptist in four, 22-25, 25-14, 25-17, 25-21, on Friday, then turned around and got a measure of revenge on UT Tyler by getting a thrilling five-set win, 12-25, 25-18, 26-24, 22-25, 15-12, on Saturday. UT Tyler had just swept the Lady Buffs in San Angelo during a showcase tournament a week ago.
What’s most important is WT is out to a 2-0 start to the LSC and now 9-4 overall.
Junior standout Torrey Miller put on a dominating performance over the weekend. On Friday against DBU, Miller registered a season-high 26 kills for a hitting percentage of .364, adding 11 digs for a double-double. Highland Park graduate Emma Patterson led the back row with 14 digs.
Against UT Tyler, Miller was stellar again knocking down 21 kills with 11 digs for her eye-popping 40th career double-double. Patterson had 18 digs and Hereford graduate and WT freshman Taytum Stow added nine kills.
WT will continue LSC action when the Lady Buffs hit the road to take on the St. Edward’s Hilltoppers at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by a match at St. Mary’s at 6 p.m. on Saturday.