Sept. 14, 2002

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - Stevie Nicholas, Tisha Schwartz and Lisa Smith all reached double figures in kills, and Baylor hit .315 as a team as the Bears defeated Northeastern 25-30, 30-21, 30-21, 30-25 here Saturday at the Rhode Island Classic. Baylor improves to 5-3 on the season with the victory, its fifth in a row, while Northeastern falls to 5-3.

Baylor's .315 attacking percentage is the Bears' highest in a four-game match since hitting .323 against Wright State in 1994. It also marked Baylor's first four-game match with an attacking percentage above .300 since hitting .306 against Colorado in 1999.

Nicholas hit .372 on the match and finished with 22 kills, nine digs, four service aces and three blocks. Schwartz hit .429 with 17 kills, nine digs and four blocks. Smith posted her first career double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs. Stella Odion had six errorless kill sin 15 swings (.400) with nine digs and a career-high five blocks. Emily Huston added four blocks and 23 assists, while Jillian Mazzarella had nine digs, three blocks and 23 assists.

Northeastern took the first game 30-25; the Huskies held Baylor to a .105 team attacking percentage in the opener. Baylor fell behind 7-2 early and never recovered. The Bears pulled to within two points on several occasions and to within one point at 24-23. However, the Huskies never trailed en route to the victory.

Baylor improved its attacking percentage to .360 in the second game en route to a 30-21 triumph. With the score tied 7-7, the Bears put together a 14-4 run to take a commanding 21-11 lead. Side-out ball followed with 15 consecutive side outs before a Jillian Mazzarella service ace made it 29-18. Four points later, the Bears closed out the game.

The Bears continued their torrid offensive pace in game three, attacking at a .471 clip for another 30-21 victory. Baylor again made its move from a 7-7 tie, going on a five-point run to take control of the game at 12-7. The Bears later put together a six-point run, opening a 26-17 lead, and never looked back. Schwartz led the Bears' game-three attack with eight errorless kills in nine swings (.889), while Nicholas had seven kills and only one error in 14 tries (.429).

Game four saw Baylor hit .367 as a team while Northeastern hit just .179. Baylor trailed 9-8 before putting together 9-2 run. The Huskies pulled within three points at 26-23, but the Bears closed out the game on a 4-2 run for the 30-25 victory.

Baylor faces Utah State at 3:30 p.m. CDT Saturday in the Bears' final match at the URI Classic.