Volleyball Set for Baylor Invitational

Volleyball 8/27/2008 12:00:00 AM

Aug. 27, 2008

WACO, Texas -

BAYLOR VOLLEYBALL SET FOR BAYLOR INVITATIONAL

The Baylor volleyball team opens its 2008 season on Friday and Saturday as the Bears host the Baylor Invitational at the Ferrell Center. Baylor will open the season against SMU at 7 p.m. on Friday night, and will face Prairie View A&M and Lamar on Saturday.

Baylor is coming off a 14-17 overall record in 2007, finishing eighth in the Big 12 with a 6-14 conference record. The Bears return four starters from the 2007 squad and signed their third-straight Top 40 recruiting class in 2008. Taylor Barnes and Anna Breyfogle were named to the 2008 Preseason All-Big 12 team as voted on by the league's coaches. Barnes, who also earned preseason all-conference accolades in 2007, is one of the league's top setters and has recorded more service aces over the last two years than any other Big 12 player. Breyfogle led the conference in blocking as a sophomore. She anchors a net defense that has been ranked among the conference best over the last four seasons.

In addition, the Bears return outside hitter Katie Sanders, who led the team with 478 kills in 2007. Outside hitter Ashlie Christenson was named to the 2007 Big 12 All-Freshman team.

Baylor signed seven newcomers in 2008, including two players, Briana Tolbert and Krista Brenner, ranked among the top 62 in the nation. In addition, the Bears inked Brittany Ridenour, the 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year from Iowa. Allison King was selected an AAU National All-American, while Jordan Rice was named the Most Valuable Player of the Texas state tournament. Evin Cotton was an all-league setter from California, while Qian Zhang becomes the first Chinese player in program history.

Friday's match will be broadcast live on the internet at BaylorBears.com.

LAST YEAR AT THE BAYLOR INVITATIONAL

Baylor finished the weekend with a 1-2 record at the 2007 Baylor Invitational, falling 3-0 to Oregon in the weekend finale and dropping a five-game match to Mississippi State. Oregon won the tournament championship, sweeping all three matches on the weekend. Heather Williams of Oregon was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Katie Swoboda earned the Top Libero award. Anna Breyfogle and Ashlie Christenson were each selected to the all-tournament team.

LAST TIME OUT

Sarah Ammerman recorded 19 kills and Mary Batis added 17 kills for Texas A&M as the Aggies defeated Baylor 3-0 (30-27, 33-31, 30-27) on Saturday night at G. Rollie White Coliseum.

The match marked the end of the season for Baylor and the final collegiate match for Amanda Modglin and Kristen Schramek.

Anna Breyfogle led the way for Baylor with 13 kills while Katie Sanders tallied 12 kills in her first match in over a week following an injury. Haley Thomas added eight kills and Ashlie Christenson contributed seven kills for the Bears. Baylor (14-17, 6-14 Big 12) served up nine service aces and did not commit a receiving error for the first time this season. Mady Bates tallied a career-high four aces, while Taylor Barnes added two, raising her Big 12 leading mark to 48 aces last season.

Sarah Grace led the Baylor defense with a match-high 18 digs, while Barnes and Schramek recorded nine digs apiece. Breyfogle recorded five total blocks and Thomas added four blocks.

Baylor finishes the season with a 6-14 conference record, the third straight season that the Bears have tallied six conference victories.

Print Friendly Version