VB Set for Midweek Match with TCU
11/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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Baylor (16-9, 4-7 Big 12) vs TCU (16-7, 6-5 Big 12) November 11, 2015 | 7 p.m. CT Waco, TX | Ferrell Center (6,000) TV: FSSW+ & FOXSportsGo App ![]() ![]() |
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WACO, Texas - The Baylor volleyball team (16-9, 4-7 Big 12) clashes with the TCU Horned Frogs (16-7, 6-5 Big 12) on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Ferrell Center.
After a sweep of the previous week's matches over Texas Tech and West Virginia, BU enters an important week for the program's postseason aspirations, with the opportunity to make significant contributions to its tournament resume.
Under first-year head coach Ryan McGuyre, the squad has the opportunity to match the highest home win total since 2009 (10). Baylor will get two chances, as the Bears follow Wednesday's home match versus TCU with a Sunday match against Oklahoma.
With a short history between the two programs, Baylor has held an advantage in the all-time series, carrying a 10-5 advantage. TCU has emerged as the victor in four of the last five meetings, with the last win for Baylor coming at home last season.
The Bears will look to avenge a heart-breaking five set loss to the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth earlier this season. After jumping out to a 2-1 set advantage, BU let the match slip away, dropping the fourth and fifth sets to drop the team's first and only five-set loss of the season.
The match will be carried by FOX Sports Southwest Plus for the TV broadcast, with John Morris and Kristen Bates as the on-air talent. Fans can also listen to Baylor's Internet radio broadcast on BaylorBears.com/AllAccess. Keep up with the team all season long by following Baylor Volleyball on the team's official Twitter page, @BaylorVball.
MATCH INFO:
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015 at 7 p.m. CT
Ferrell Center (6,000)
Waco, Texas
TV: FSSW+
BU Video: BaylorBears.com
BU Audio: BaylorBears.com
Live Stats: BaylorBears.com
BAYLOR BEARS
2015 Record: 16-9
Big 12 Record: 4-7
Head Coach: Ryan McGuyre (1st season)
All-Time Record vs. TCU: 10-5 (last meeting, five-set loss in Fort Worth, 10/17/15)
All-Time Record vs. TCU in Waco: 5-1 (last meeting, four-set win, 11/12/14)
TCU HORNED FROGS
2015 Record: 16-7
Big 12 Record: 6-5
Head Coach: Jill Kramer (1st season)
-BU-
Baylor Volleyball Match Preview
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation
Looking to avenge its only five-set loss of the season, the Baylor volleyball team (16-9, 4-7) will host TCU (16-7, 6-5) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ferrell Center in the second of three straight home matches.
"Internally, I think that's one our girls have been ready to play since we walked out of there the last time," head coach Ryan McGuyre said of that 3-2 loss to the Horned Frogs three weeks ago in Fort Worth. "I thought we played them really tough at their place. . . . And we knew there were things we could have executed better down the stretch to do that. We got their best game, and they didn't get our best game from us."
Rebounding from their first three-match losing streak of the season, the Bears won 3-1 at Texas Tech last Wednesday and then defeated West Virginia, 3-0, on Saturday to finish off season series sweeps.
That's put them in position to earn an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time in four years. Baylor is sixth in the Big 12 standings, but fourth among conference teams with a No. 37 RPI ranking.
"This is a little bit unchartered territory for some of these returners," McGuyre said. "To me, that's exciting. We're going into the last couple weeks in November, and we're playing matches that matter. I'd love to say that it's 10 percent sunk in, but I don't think it has yet. I think Wednesday will definitely be a tell-tale sign of whether it has or not."
Senior Adrien Richburg, named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after averaging eight blocks in the wins over Tech and West Virginia, said this is the first time since she's been here that "we've been in this position in the month of November."
"The fact that we have a chance to go to postseason and we still have that national championship on our mind, that's fun," she said.
Baylor took a 2-1 sets lead on TCU in the first meeting and was in position to close it out, but the Horned Frogs hit .489 over the last two sets with 26 kills and just three errors in 47 swings.
"When they have all their hitters on, they're pretty good. And when we have all our hitters on, we're pretty good," McGuyre said. "Whether it's Shelly (Fanning) or Katie (Staiger) or Andie (Malloy), when one of those three is on fire, I would take them every time."
Malloy (2.91), Fanning (2.83) and Staiger (2.81) are averaging nearly nine kills per set combined, while Tola Itiola (1.01), Richburg (0.93) and freshman Jordan Vail (0.98) lead the team in blocks per set.
The Bears hold a 10-5 edge over TCU in the all-time series and get a chance in their next two matches to split the season series. Baylor hosts Oklahoma (8-14, 2-8) at 2 p.m. Sunday to cap off the three-match home stand.
"We're at home, and we need to take care of business," McGuyre said. "Our schedule is a little more favorable in the second half (of Big 12 play), just who we're playing at home. It's time to make sure that we're not only improving, but we're playing our best volleyball."