AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia University Texas volleyball team will play a trio of pivotal American Southwest Conference (ASC) matches this weekend in Abilene, Texas.
The Tornados (8-14, 4-7 ASC) are scheduled to face off with Howard Payne at 10 a.m. on Friday, followed by league-leading Texas-Dallas two hours later. CTX also will play host Hardin-Simmons at 10 a.m. the following day.
Concordia Texas, which has won back-to-back contests, sits in seventh place in the ASC standings. The Tornados trail the Lady Jackets by one game for the final playoff spot with the final two weekends of conference action to play.
Concordia dropped a five-set match to Howard Payne on Sept. 28 in Alpine, Texas. CTX also was swept by the Comets on the same day and dropped a five-setter to the Cowgirls a day earlier.
The Tornados offense is run by senior setter Sam Ladewig, who ranks fifth in the ASC with 6.33 assists per set. Sophomore Katie Baker owns a team-best 2.27 kills per frame, while senior Emma Clifford is hitting at a team-high .253 clip. Clifford also leads CTX with 58 total blocks and junior Cassie Dominguez averages 2.64 digs per panel.
The Lady Jackets (15-10, 6-7 ASC) have won two of their last three matches, but were swept by Schreiner on Tuesday. Sarah Bishop ranks fourth in the conference with 3.01 kills per frame, while Hannah Hicks is third in the circuit with 1.05 blocks per set.
Texas-Dallas (20-6, 12-1 ASC) has won 18 of its last 19 matches, including nine straight. The Comets lead the ASC in hitting percentage (.260), assists (12.12) and digs (17.96) per set. UTD also ranks second with an average of 12.93 kills per frame. Kayla Jordan sits in second in the league with 9.02 assists per set.
Hardin-Simmons (15-10, 10-3 ASC) has won three of its last four, including a four-set victory over LeTourneau last Saturday. Christine Sas ranks second in the conference with 3.27 kills per frame, while Ashley Babineaux sits in second with 5.11 stops per panel.
Live video will be provided for all of Concordia's matches this weekend.
- CTX -
