Amarillo College’s historic hot start to the season was put on full display during the team’s home opener on Monday evening against Vernon College.
The Badgers utilized a perfect performance at the service line and an efficient offensive attack to sweep the Chapparals 25-21, 25-19, 25-8. AC finished the match with 11 aces compared to zero service errors and a season-best .397 hitting percentage.
Sophomore Jayli Franklin tallied a team-best four aces. Madeline Lentz and Tyler Pool added three aces apiece.
After a competitive first set where AC rallied from a 19-18 deficit to win the frame, the Badgers trailed only once during the final two games of Monday’s match.
Freshman Delany Galligan – the team’s kill leader – displayed her defensive skillset during the contest’s most crucial stretch. The Argyle High School product recorded a pair of solo blocks as part of the first-set rally.
Galligan then put down a kill by way of a London Baker assist, giving AC a 24-21 first set lead. Jaelynn Jackson’s solo block sealed the Badgers’ set-one victory.
Galligan led AC in kills (10) and San Angelo native Sam Cardona added eight kills. Emery Bryan had her most efficient outing of her rookie campaign, adding six kills on nine swings with zero errors (.667 hitting percentage).
Baker dished out a team-high 27 assists while Lentz contributed 15 assists.
Amarillo College’s 8-2 start to the season is the most wins by the program in its first 10 games since the reboot of athletics at AC in 2022.
The Badgers next six matches will be at home. AC will play Lamar Community College on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at the FirstBank Southwest Center, starting at 6 p.m. before hosting the Amarillo College Tournament on Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13.
AC goes 4-1 over non-conference road trip
Last week’s endurance test result?
The Badgers passed with flying colors.
AC competed in five matches across four days last week and finished the road trip north of the Texas border with a 4-1 record.
The Badgers swept Lamar Community College in Colorado (25-13, 25-15, 25-13) on Aug. 27.
AC then traveled to McCook, Nebraska following the match for the MCC Labor Day Weekend Tourney on Friday and Saturday.
The Badgers secured a pair of sweeps against Cloud County Community College and Hutchinson Community College to begin the tournament on Aug. 29.
AC downed Cloud County 25-18, 25-9, 25-22 with a versatile offensive approach. Franklin recorded a team-high eight kills. Galligan, Jackson, and Yuna NG added five kills apiece.
The Badgers ended play on Friday by sweeping Hutchinson in a competitive match (25-20, 25-13, 25-23).
AC’s 19-12 lead in the final set dwindled to a one-point advantage at 24-23. Franklin put a halt to the Blue Dragons’ late rally with a game-clinching kill on a dish by Baker.
A 9 a.m. Saturday morning matchup versus Iowa Western fell in the Reivers favor, marking the team’s only defeat over the weekend.
Iowa Western won the match 25-23, 25-23, 25-18.
The Badgers’ 1.68 passer rating during the loss was a season-low mark.
AC responded against the hosts – McCook Community College – to conclude its stay in the Cornhusker State. The Badgers claimed a four-set victory (23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22) for the first time this season after losing the first set.
Galligan tallied a season-high 15 kills in the tourney finale via a .316 hitting percentage.
