April 12, 2006
2006 Baylor Volleyball Schedule
WACO, Texas - The Baylor volleyball program released its complete 31-match schedule for the 2006 season, including the standard 20-match Big 12 Conference slate, third-year head coach Jim Barnes announced Wednesday.
"We're excited about this schedule, because of the challenges it presents to get ready for Big 12 play," Barnes said. "Once again we're going to face one of the toughest schedules in the nation with 17 matches against NCAA tournament teams. Our goal is to keep moving up - we've won more conference matches both years we've been here - so we're looking to finish in the top half of the Big 12 and get a berth to the NCAA Tournament."
The Bears open tournament play against UC-Davis, Montana and host California Aug. 25-26 in Berkeley, Calif., a homecoming for senior middle blocker Desiree Guilliard-Young, who attended Berkeley High School.
"Cal will probably be ranked in the top 10, and all three teams are quality teams that will be tough," Barnes said. "We will get a chance to see where we stand right from the beginning."
"Playing at Cal is something we wanted to do for Desiree. I wanted to play a top opponent and get her closer to home, so we killed two birds with one stone. She will get a chance to play in front of her friends and family at place where she grew up going to matches. She will have a big following - I don't know if they'll be cheering so much for Baylor, but they will definitely be cheering for Des. It's the perfect way to start."
Baylor returns to Waco for its home-opening tournament against Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas-Little Rock and New Mexico. The Bears follow with a mid-week match at Texas State, before finishing up the tournament portion of the schedule against Arkansas State, Tennessee State and Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches Sept. 8-9.
The Bears open Big 12 Conference play at home against Kansas State Sept. 13. During a key stretch, Baylor plays four of five conference matches at home in late October, but play five of its last seven conference contests on the road in November.
Baylor returns seven letterwinners, including three starters from last year's 15-17 squad that went 6-14 to finish ninth in the Big 12. Along with Guilliard-Young, the Bears also return outside hitter Nicole LeBlanc (Tampa, Fla.) and libero Kristen Schramek (San Antonio, Texas) to the starting rotation. The team will also have several key additions with the expected return of redshirt freshman Kelsey Smith (Lubbock, Texas) from a knee injury, defensive specialist/libero Amanda Renz (The Woodlands, Texas) transferring in at the beginning of the spring semester and five freshmen, who comprise one of Baylor best-ever recruiting classes.
Broadcast information will be available this summer.
