Volleyball Welcomes No. 1 Nebraska
11/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 18, 2000
Bears welcome No. 1 Nebraska to Waco: For the first time in schol history, the top-ranked team in the nation will play in Waco this Saturday when No. 1 Nebraska visits the Ferrell Center at 7 p.m. Baylor enters the match with a 14-13 overall record and a 7-11 mark in the Big 12 Conference. The Huskers stand at 25-0 and 17-0. The match will be webcast at www.GoBaylorBears.com, the official website of Baylor Athletics and a member of the FANSOnly Network.
Scouting the Huskers: Simply put, Nebraska has been a machine this season. The Huskers have hardly been tested this year, going to five games just once. In fact, Nebraska has dropped just six of 81 games this season. Colorado State, which has been ranked in the top five most of the season, won the first game of its match with NU Sept. 2. Preseason No. 1 UCLA stayed with Nebraska for five games in mid-September. After that match, the Huskers won nine consecutive matches in three games. Sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist leads the Big Red Machine with her .418 attacking percentage. She also has 3.23 kills per game and leads the nation with 1.90 blocks per game. As a team, Nebraska is tops in the NCAA with a .328 attacking percentage and 4.04 blocks per game.
Last time against Nebraska: The Bears were held to a season-low .052 attacking percentage and were outblocked 15-2 as Nebraska steamrolled to a 15-2, 15-2, 15-10 victory Oct. 11 in Lincoln. The Huskers pounded the Bears for 50 kills and a .386 attacking percentage. Nebraska became the first, and to this point only, team to hold Stevie Nicholas under 10 kills, Nicholas had five. Sunny Nicholas led the Bears with 11 kills, the only Baylor player to reach 10. The third game marked just the fifth time in the 30-game history of the BU-NU series that the Bears have reached 10 points.
The Series vs. Nebraska: The history between Baylor and Nebraska is a short one -- the Cornhuskers have won all 10 matches in the series and have never dropped a game to the Bears. Last season, Nebraska was a 15-10, 15-5, 15-8 winner in Waco and took a 15-7, 15-7, 15-9 decision in Lincoln. Baylor jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the third game at home, but the Huskers called a time out and then scored 15 straight points to win the match. The teams first met Sept. 22, 1995 in Lincoln as a part of the Arby's Classic.
Baylor against No. 1 teams: This will be just the fourth time in the history of the Baylor program that the Bears have faced a team ranked first nationally. Last season, Baylor closed its season against No. 1 and eventual national champion Penn State. The only other top-ranked opponent for the Bears was none other than Nebraska. The Cornhuskers were ranked first nationally when they defeated Baylor in their first-ever meeting at the 1995 Arby's Classic. The Huskers also knocked off Baylor in three games earlier this season in Lincoln while ranked first nationally.
Did you know?: History is on the side of Nebraska. In each of the previous two seasons in which Baylor has faced a nationally top-ranked team (Nebraska, 1995, Penn State, 1999), that team has gone on to win the national championship. Nebraska is the only No. 1 team the Bears have played this season.
Sunny does it again: For just the second time this season, someone other than Stevie Nicholas led the Bears in kills Saturday against Colorado. Older sister Sunny Nicholas had the honor with 17 to Stevie's 16. Ironically, the only other time Stevie has not led the team in kills this season was Oct. 11 at Nebraska when she was held to five kills and Sunny had 11 kills. Sept. 30 against Oklahoma, Stevie tied Amy Wallace for the team-lead with 17 kills. In each of the other 23 matches, Stevie has been the out-right leader in kills for the Bears.
Statistically, Bears are on fire: While a 14-12 record lends itself to an average season, Baylor has actually put up some rather impressive numbers this season. The Bears boast a .250 attacking percentage this season, which ties last season's school record. As for kills, Baylor has amassed 1,710 this season, ninth all-time at BU, for a school-record 18.39 per game average. The previous mark was set last season at 16.87. At their current pace, the Bears would end the regular season with 1,986 kills if they played the minimum of 15 games during the remaining five matches. That would rank second all-time at BU behind last season's record of 2,125. The Bears have also tallied 1,582 assists this season, ranking fourth all-time at Baylor. Their per game average of 16.80 is well above the 1999 school mark of 15.63 per game. In the digs category, the Bears currently are averaging 17.28 per game, third all-time at Baylor.
Chuha breaks assist mark: With her first assist Saturday against Colorado, junior setter Dana Chuha broke the school record for assists in a season. She now has 1,432 assists in 93 games, 62 more than amassed by Sharon Pratt in 117 games during the 1996 season. Last year, Chuha, who was injured the majority of the season, established a school record with 14.70 assists per game in 89 games of action. This season she is averaging 15.40 per game to lead the nation for a second consecutive year.
Sunny moves into 10th: Junior middle blocker Sunny Nicholas moved into the Baylor top 10 for career kills during the Oklahoma match. She now has 783 during her time at BU, sliding past Dawn Martin, who totaled 775 from 1987 to 1990. Next on the list is Kathi Jones, she amassed 822 kills from 1988 to 1991.
Stevie sets more records: Freshman outside hitter Stevie Nicholas set, tied or extended five school records during the Oklahoma match. With 32 kills, she established a Baylor freshman record for kills in a four-game match. That figure ties for the second-highest four-game match total in school history. Nicholas now has four 30-kill matches on the season, tying Elisha Polk's school record set during the 1998 season. The only Baylor freshman to ever reach 30 kills in a match, Nicholas is only two 30-kill matches shy of Polk's career record. By reaching 30 kills, Nicholas notched her school-record 13th 20-kill match of the year, Polk reached 12 such matches in 1998 and again in 1999.
Bears solve road problem at OU: While Baylor is 20-4 over the past two seasons in the friendly confines of the Ferrell Center, the Bears have had their struggles on the road. BU's victory at Oklahoma was just its third in 10 tries this season on opponents' home courts, Baylor is 7-8 away from Waco. The OU triumph snapped a four-match road losing streak for the Bears. In Baylor's eight losses away from home this season, the Bears have been able to capture just four games -- two at Missouri and two at Texas Tech. Last season, the Bears were 7-8 on opponents' home courts and 6-0 at neutral sites.
Nicholas on pace for kills mark: Freshman Stevie Nicholas has her sights set on another school record in her first season of collegiate volleyball. Currently, she ranks fifth all-time at Baylor with 536 kills on the season, fourth-place Kia Young (1999) is next on the list at 589. Already the owner or co-owner of five school records and 11 school freshman records, Nicholas is on pace to get 639 kills on the season, which would break Elisha Polk's school mark from 1998 by 19 kills.
The other freshman: With all the attention on National Freshman of the Year candidate Stevie Nicholas, fellow freshman Tisha Schwartz is going almost un-noticed. The Amarillo, Texas, native is having a solid first campaign, though, leading the team in attacking (.323) and blocks per game (1.06). As a matter of fact, she ranks tied for 14th in the Big 12 in attacking percentage and 12th in blocks per game. Over the last four matches, Schwartz is hitting .380 with 2.57 kills and 1.00 blocks per game.
Blocks tell a lot for the Bears: Baylor has recorded more blocks than its opponent nine times this season. The Bears are 9-0 in such matches, while posting a 5-13 mark in the other 16 matches. Since the beginning of the 1999 season, the Bears are 20-2 when out-blocking their opponent and have won 13 consecutive such matches. On the other hand, Baylor has a 20-19 record during that time when its opponent has more blocks. The Bears are 0-1 over the past two seasons when they have the same number of blocks as their opponent.
Slow starts killing the Bears: Want to know if Baylor is going to win the match? Stick around for the end of the first game. At least, that's the trend the Bears have been following this season. BU is 11-1 this season when winning the first game, the lone loss was at home against Texas. On the flip side, the Bears are just 3-12 when losing the first game, overcoming first-game losses at home against Texas Tech, at home against Kansas State and at Oklahoma. But if you want to be absolutely sure, stick around for the end of the second game. This season, Baylor is 10-1 when leading two games to none (lost at home to Texas) and 0-9 when trailing two games to none. In matches where the Bears have split the first two games, they are 4-3.
If it goes five, flip a coin: Baylor is 13-12 in five-game matches under fifth-year head coach Brian Hosfeld after rallying to defeat Kansas State. Prior to that, the Bears had dropped five of their last six five-gamers, dating back to last season. Two of those three contests saw Baylor build a 2-0 lead before dropping three straight games. Baylor was 4-4 in five-game matches during the 1999 season with wins over Texas, Texas A&M, Colorado and Oklahoma. This year, the Bears are 2-3 in such contests.
Atkinson moves into third on digs chart: Senior outside hitter Dana Atkinson moved into third place all-time at Baylor in career digs during the Texas Christian match. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native jumped ahead of Jenny DeLue (1990-1993), who had 1,344 career digs. Next on the list is Elisha Polk (1996-1999), who ended her career with 1,507. Through the first 19 matches of the season, Atkinson is averaging 12.67 digs per match. If she continues at that pace, she would end the regular season with 1,540 career digs. Cory Sivertson (1991-1994) holds the BU mark at 1,575.
Huskers snap Stevie's streaks: Freshman outside hitter Stevie Nicholas got a wakeup call Wednesday against No. 1 Nebraska. The Fullerton, Calif., native was held to just five kills in the three-game match, marking the first time in her collegiate career that she did not reach double figures in kills. Therefore, her school-record streak of such matches to begin a career ended at 16 matches, some five matches better than the previous school mark set by Elisha Polk in 1996. Stevie also gave way on another streak, her sister, Sunny Nicholas, led the Bears in kills against the Huskers with 11, marking the first time this season that Stevie had not at least tied for the team-high in kills. In the first 16 matches, Stevie led Baylor solely 15 times. Amy Wallace matched her with 17 kills against Oklahoma.
Chuha takes over second: Junior setter Dana Chuha moved into second place in career assists at Baylor with her 56-assist performance against Texas A&M. The Yorba Linda, Calif. native now has 2,750 on her three-year career. However, overtaking first-place Cory Sivertson will probably take some time. Sivertson tallied 4,846 assists during her 1991 to 1994 stay at Baylor. Chuha owns the top three and eight of the top 10 single-match assist totals in school history. Her 101 assists last season against Texas is a school and Big 12 record and ranks seventh all-time in the NCAA. Chuha also set an NCAA Tournament record for assists in a four-game match with 94 against Temple in last season's first round.
Baylor attendance figures: Baylor's first home match of the 2000 season drew a crowd of 726 fans. That is the second-largest, home-opener crowd in school history behind only the Sept. 12, 1997 match against UCLA that drew a crowd of 1,163. Eight of the 10 largest crowds in school history have come during head coach Brian Hosfeld's tenure, and three of those have come during the 2000 season.
Two and out: Dropping a match after winning the first two games is nothing new for the Bears. Last season, both Texas A&M and Colorado reversed the tide against BU and overcame two-game deficits. There have been eight occasions in the history of Baylor volleyball in which the Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but could not close out the match.
Stevie Nicholas named Athlete of the Week: For the first time in the history of Baylor's volleyball team, a freshman was honored with conference player of the week honors Monday when Stevie Nicholas was so honored by the Big 12. A native of Fullerton, Calif., Nicholas averaged 6.71 kills per game last week with 47 in two matches. She had a career-high 25 in the Bears' four-game win over Texas Tech last Wednesday and followed that with a 22-kill performance Saturday at Kansas State. Nicholas also collected a career-high 19 digs against the Red Raiders and hit .367 on the week.
Stevie Nicholas gets more hardwood: Freshman outside hitter Stevie Nicholas averaged 5.89 kills, 3.33 digs and 1.00 blocks per game en route to earning all-tournament honors at the Starwoods Plaza Wildcat Classic. She tallied a career-high 20 kills twice on the weekend, first against Santa Clara and then against New Mexico State. Nicholas also earned all-tournament honors at the Rice Tournament.
Baylor cruises past field at Rice: Baylor said good morning, good afternoon and good night to four consecutive opponents en route to its seventh regular-season tournament title during head coach Brian Hosfeld's tenure last weekend at the Rice University Tournament in Houston. The Bears defeated North Texas, Louisiana Tech, Texas-Pan American and host Rice, each by the score of 3-0. In the 18 years of Baylor volleyball prior to naming Hosfeld as head coach in 1996, the Bears captured just six regular season tournament titles and five of those came in the 1990s.
Nicholas dominates Rice Tournament: Freshman sensation Stevie Nicholas made her presence felt in her first weekend of collegiate action. The Fullerton, Calif., native tallied 69 kills and 12 blocks, averaged 5.75 kills per game and attacked at a .379 percentage at the Rice Tournament. That performance earned her tournament most valuable player honors, becoming the first-ever Baylor freshman to be named MVP of a tournament. Prior to this Elisha Polk had come the closest, garnering offensive MVP honors of the 1996 Dr Pepper/American Airlines Invitational hosted by Baylor.
Kenon sets record, named all-tournament: Junior rightside hitter Tatiana Kenon joined Stevie Nicholas on the all-tournament team last weekend. She averaged 3.55 kills and 0.73 blocks per game while hitting at a .365 clip. Her most impressive outing of the weekend came Saturday against Texas-Pan American. Kenon put down 17 kills in 22 attempts without committing an error. In doing so, the San Antonio, Texas, native broke the school record for kills in a game without an error. The mark was previously held by Cory Sivertson, who tallied 15 kills in 16 errorless attempts Oct. 7, 1992 against Rice. This was also the first time in Kenon's career to earn all-tournament honors. However, she has received hardwood before, last season Kenon was named player of the week by both the Big 12 Conference and the AVCA during the first week of November after posting a triple-double (19 kills, 10 digs, 10 blocks) against Colorado.
Head coach Brian Hosfeld: Baylor is in its fifth season under the direction of Brian Hosfeld. During his tenure, the Bears have compiled a 88-74 overall record and a 39-58 mark in the rugged Big 12 Conference. Last season, Hosfeld led the Bears to the greatest season in the program's 22-year history. Baylor posted a 26-9 record and finished fifth in the conference at 13-7. The 1999 Bears matched the school record for wins in a season and shattered the standard for conference wins. The season culminated with the Green and Gold making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. There, Baylor knocked off Temple in the first round before falling to eventual national champion Penn State. Hosfeld holds the highest winning percentage in school history. He stands third all-time at Baylor in total wins and has amassed the most conference wins of any coach in school history.
Gray, Lee complete coaching staff: Baylor will sport two new assistant coaches this season in Frank Gray and Jaimie Lee. Gray comes to Waco from Regis University in Colorado, where he worked with Division II coaching legend Frank Lavrisha. He is a 1994 graduate of the University of Colorado. Lee, who was a three-time Big East Conference Player of the Year honoree at Notre Dame, joins the staff after spending one year with the United States Professional Volleyball league touring team under the direction of world-renowned coach Arie Selinger. Lee is a 1998 Cum Laude graduate of Notre Dame.
Baylor on the web: Baylor volleyball information can be accessed 24 hours a day at the school's new athletic website www.GoBaylorBears.com. Fans and media alike can find the latest news and notes on the site along with match recaps, box scores, player features, player and coach bios and various other informational resources. Baylor volleyball matches are also webcast live on the website, a link to the webcast will be on the front page at least 30 minutes prior to match time.
