Baylor
Kansas State
VB Steams Through K-State in Three Sets
11/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
WACO, Texas ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" Baylor volleyball (17-13, 5-11 Big 12) closed out the regular season with a statement win against Kansas State, 25-13, 25-18, 25-22, Saturday night at the Ferrell Center.
The 3-0 sweep was the first time Baylor downed K-State (17-11, 9-7 Big 12) in straight sets since Oct. 20, 2010. With the win, the Bears stopped a four-match losing skid in conference play to close out the regular season.
Defense led the stat charts for the Bears, giving BU an 84-72 dig advantage in the 3-0 victory. Seniors Mackenzie Mayo and Andie Malloy accounted for 21 digs each, and junior Morgan Reed set a new career high with 19 digs.
Three BU players finished with 10 kills: Andie Malloy, Adrien Richburg and Tola Itiola. Katie Staiger added nine, followed by Shelly Fanning with eight kills for the Bears.
The Bears got out to a fast start, leading 6-2 and forcing an early K-State timeout in the opening set. Baylor did not hold back and easily took set one, 25-13.
Both teams exchanged points in set two, but Baylor closed out the frame on a 9-0 run for a 25-18 victory and a big 2-0 lead headed into the break.
Set three started out similar to set two, and Baylor climbed out of a 19-17 deficit to finish the set on an 8-3 run, winning 25-22.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Baylor closes out the regular season with its first winning record since 2012. BU also surpassed its win total in conference play (5) during the 2013 and 2014 seasons (4).
- The Bears matched the highest home win total since 2009, earning its 10th win of the season.
- Morgan Reed had a career-high 19 digs.
- Amy Rosenbaum had a match-high 35 assists for Baylor.
- Andie Malloy earned her 10th double-double of the season and 28th of her career, finishing with 10 kills and a career-high 21 digs.
- The 3-0 BU sweep was the first straight-set win over K-State since Oct. 20, 2010.
STAT OF THE DAY
4 ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" the amount of Baylor players with double-digit digs: Mackenzie Mayo (21), Andie Malloy (21), Morgan Reed (19) and Jana Brusek (14).
TOP QUOTE #1
"The defense is something we know we needed to improve all season. The blockers did a good job. It's kind of a complex defensive plan, but it got simplified. The girls put in great days of practice, we had to come back from Iowa State. It definitely kicked off with a great job from the service line. We knew we needed to contain the outside, because we knew they were going to get a lot of swings." ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬"head coach Ryan McGuyre
TOP QUOTE #2
"Amy and her leadership, she was in the flow tonight and did some great things. Adrien played the best I've seen her all season. Andie means so much to the program, just the sacrifice she made to come and play here at Baylor. Mayo was just one of those diamonds I found unintentionally, and she makes the people around her better. She was really consistent tonight, such a lovable and likeable girl." ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬"head coach Ryan McGuyre on the seniors' final home match
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor closed out the regular season with a win over K-State. The 2015 NCAA Women's Volleyball Selection Show starts tomorrow at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
-BU-
