Sept. 21, 2008

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Katie Sanders tallied 20 kills and 15 digs as Baylor defeated Missouri 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22) on Sunday afternoon at the Hearnes Center. With the win, Baylor improves to 10-2 overall, 2-0 in Big 12 action, as the Bears move to 2-0 in the conference for the first time since 1997.

Baylor also snapped a six-match losing streak at Missouri. The last time the Bears defeated Missouri at the Hearnes Center came during the 2001 season.

"I thought that we played a great all-around match," said head coach Jim Barnes. "Missouri never let up and made us earn the win, but we were able to keep our composure. Our key was to play good defense. We thought that if we could match Missouri's defense then our offense would be able to put them over the top."

Sanders recorded her 20 kills on .269 hitting. She added her 15 digs for her sixth kill-dig double-double of the season. The Bears are 6-0 when Sanders records a double-double this season. She also tallied a service ace and five total blocks including one solo.

Anna Breyfogle recorded 15 kills against only two hitting errors for a .371 hitting percentage. She also led the Bears with nine total blocks, including three solos.

Taylor Barnes ran the Baylor offense to a .263 hitting percentage as the Bears recorded 64 kills against 19 hitting errors. The junior setter also added eight kills on .538 hitting and served up three service aces. Barnes was second on the team with 16 digs, while adding three total blocks.

"Taylor plays well on the court, but the most important thing she did today was being a leader and keeping her composure," said Barnes. "She makes great decisions and helps us get in the right position during the course of play."

Brittany Ridenour led the Baylor backrow defense that placed five players in double-figure digs. The freshman setter made her first-career start as the back row player for the right side hitting position. She tallied a team-high 19 digs and added three assists. Allison King and Jordan Rice tallied 14 and 10 digs, respectively.

"We knew after scouting Missouri that we would need good defense at the right-back position," said Barnes. "Brittany has been playing really well in practice and is an outstanding defender. She was a little shaky in the fourth set, but played an outstanding match."

Baylor dominated the net on defense, recording 14 total blocks to just six for Missouri. Breyfogle's nine total blocks marks her season-high, while Sanders set a season-best total with five blocks. Briana Tolbert tallied four blocks, while Barnes added three blocks.

"We were very aggressive with our blocking," said Barnes. "We got a lot of tips at the net and that makes things a lot easier on our back row players."

In the first set, Baylor opened a 13-8 lead, but Missouri won six out of seven points to tie the score at 14 apiece. Baylor took six of the next eight points to open a four point lead, and withstood three straight points late to win the first set on a Sanders kill.

Baylor jumped out quickly in the second set, building a 15-9 edge on a Missouri hitting error. The Bears held as much as a six-point lead over the next 15 serves, leading 21-15 on Ashley Byrd's kill. Missouri won eight of the next 10 points to tie the score, but Breyfogle and Sanders tallied consecutive kills to end the rally.

The two teams traded points through the first 25 serves before Baylor scored four-straight points to take a 16-13 lead on a Tolbert kill. Missouri rallied to tie the score at 20 before pulling ahead 22-20. Baylor used a service error and two kills to take a 23-22 lead, but Missouri got two kills from Julianna Klein and a block from Lei Wang and Weiwen Wang to take the third set.

Breyfogle scored the first three points of the fourth set, recording two kills and a solo block to give Baylor a 3-0 lead. Trailing 16-15, Baylor scored three-straight points to take an 18-16 lead on a Barnes service ace. With the two teams tied at 20 apiece, Breyfogle scored two kills and Missouri had an errant attack to give the Bears a three-point cushion. After a Klein kill, Sanders tallied a kill to end the match.

"It was really important to get a road win," said Barnes. "When you play in this conference, every match is a dogfight. To win a Big 12 match on the road is a huge benefit to this team."

With the win Baylor improves to 10-2 overall, 2-0 in Big 12 play. Missouri drops to 5-6 on the year, 0-2 in league action. The Bears return to action on Wednesday as Baylor plays host to Oklahoma at 7 p.m. in the Ferrell Center.