Three weeks before Saturday’s match at Frank Phillips College, the Lady Plainsmen defeated the Badger volleyball team in five sets at AC’s home tournament.

Amarillo College returned the favor in Borger over the weekend and put themselves in an advantageous position in the conference standings as a result.

The Badgers swept the Plainsmen (25-20, 25-15, 25-18) to improve their record in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference to 3-3.

With the win, AC is now in sole possession of the fourth and final postseason spot for the Region 5 tournament with eight conference games remaining.

Sophomore and Bushland graduate Kaela Neie and freshman Jacey Loudder propelled the AC offense to its most efficient hitting match of the season during Saturday’s rout.

Loudder recorded a team-best .636 hitting percentage (8 kills on 11 swings).

Neie led the team in kills for the 21st time this season during the team’s 22nd outing. Neie had 16 kills at a .583 clip – a new school-record for hitting percentage in a single game with at least 15 attack attempts.

AC ended the match with a season-best .300 hitting percentage as a unit.

Versatile sophomore Ellie Okikawa led the team in assists for the second consecutive game with 19. Okikawa has now seen significant playing time at the setter role for three straight matches.

Freshman Abigale Ramsey got her first start of the season during Saturday’s match and made the most of her opportunity. The West Plains High School product tallied a team-best 2.75 passer rating by successfully receiving all eight serves that came her way, including seven 3-passes.

Racel Russell also played a significant role in the team’s best passing games of the season via a 2.57 passer rating and five 3-passes on seven serve receive attempts.

West Plains graduate Jayli Franklin closely followed with a 2.42 passer rating.

Jaelynn Jackson and Loudder had a team-best best two blocks apiece. Okikawa tallied a team-high three service aces.

AC falls to Western Texas College on the road

The first meeting between Badgers and Westerners ended with a four-set victory by the home team on Oct. 2 in Snyder.

Western Texas College won the conference match 23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-16 to garner their first conference victory.

The Westerners held advantages in hitting (.213 percentage to .071) and had half as many service errors (7 to 14) as AC.

Neie led the team with 20 kills and Okikawa added a season-best 24 assists, along with team-high five aces.