Sept. 7, 2007
Box Score
DALLAS, Texas - Katie Sanders recorded 17 kills and 17 digs, and Taylor Barnes added seven service aces as Baylor defeated Sam Houston State 3-1 (30-22, 25-30, 30-15, 30-21) on Friday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.
Sanders (Katy, Texas) tallied her 17 kills while committing only two hitting errors in 35 total attempts to tie her career high .429 hitting percentage. She also added a career-best 17 digs en route to her sixth double-double of the season.
"I thought Katie played really well today," said head coach Jim Barnes. "She played defense really well and had a lot of big swings and kills for us."
Barnes (Arlington, Texas) recorded five kills and no errors in six attacks (.833) and added 15 digs and a season-high seven service aces.
"Taylor is just a high-quality player," said Jim Barnes. "She really started playing with a lot more confidence in game two and hit some bomb serves. She is the quarterback of this team and we play a lot better when she plays with a lot of confidence."
Haley Thomas (Jewett, Texas) tallied 13 kills and a team high seven total blocks. Ashley Byrd (Denton, Texas) recorded a career-high 12 kills, while Ashlie Christenson (Cleburne, Texas) also contributed 12 kills.
Sarah Grace (Houston, Texas) led the Baylor defense with 18 digs, and also added three service aces.
Baylor (5-3) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, taking game one 30-22. The Bears tallied 20 kills and only two hitting errors in the first game, hitting .514 to take the one-game lead.
Sam Houston State (2-3) responded in the second game, converting on 15 kills and only one hitting error to even the match with a 30-25 victory.
After the halftime, Baylor came out of the locker room with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm, winning game three 30-15. Barnes keyed the run in game three with three service aces during one rotation.
"We let the girls know that we weren't pleased with how they played during game two," said Jim Barnes. "I was proud of how they came out of the halftime and really stepped up their games."
Baylor closed out the match in game four 30-21, while Mandy Elliot (Richmond, Texas), Mady Bates (Buda, Texas) and Caitlyn Trice (Houston, Texas) each saw their first action of the season.
"We were really excited to get Mady, Mandy and Caitlyn some playing time in this match," said Barnes. "They were itching to play, and they really didn't even miss a beat. They each played very well today."
Elliott recorded two kills with no errors in six attempts, while Trice added three digs in the back row. Bates directed the offense at the end of game four with four set assists.
Baylor returns to action on Saturday morning as the Bears face Mississippi at 10:30 a.m. at the SMU/Radisson Invitational.
