Volleyball Faces Texas Tech in Lubbock
11/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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| Baylor (14-9, 2-7 Big 12) vs. Texas Tech (13-11, 2-8 Big 12) November 4, 2015 | 6 p.m. CT Lubbock, Texas | United Supermarkets Arena (16,000) TV: FOX Sports Southwest  Watch |  | | Baylor Match Notes |
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WACO, Texas -- The Baylor volleyball team (14-9, 2-7 Big 12) takes the quick trip north to Lubbock to face Texas Tech (13-11, 2-8 Big 12) on Wednesday, Nov. 4 in the United Supermarkets Arena.
Following a heartbreaking loss to TCU and disappointing outings against Iowa State and at Kansas, BU will look to rebound against a Red Raider team that the Bears have already swept this season.
Including that victory on Sept. 30 earlier this year, the Bears have won 20 of the last 22 matchups against Texas Tech, including nine of the last 10 matches played in Lubbock.
The recent dominance of Baylor in the series has narrowed what was an immense advantage by TTU in the all-time series, now standing at 28-47 in favor of the Red Raiders.
The Bears have historically trailed in the series at Lubbock, with TTU holding a 11-25 margin.
Fans can 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. 4, 2015 at 6 p.m. CT
Lubbock, Texas
United Supermarkets Arena (16,000)
TV: FOX Sports Southwest
BU Audio: BaylorBears.com/AllAccess
Live Stats: TexasTech.com
BAYLOR BEARS
2015 Record: 14-9
2015 Big 12 Record: 2-7
Head Coach: Ryan McGuyre (1st season)
All-Time Record vs. TEXAS TECH: 28-47 (last meeting, three-set win, 9/30/15)
All-Time Record vs. TEXAS TECH in Lubbock: 11-25 (last meeting, four-set win, 10/29/14)
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
2015 Record: 13-11
2015 Big 12 Record: 2-8
Head Coach: Don Flora (5th season)
Baylor Volleyball Match Preview
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation
After opening the second half of league play by being swept at No. 10 Kansas, the Baylor volleyball team will try to end a season-long three-match losing streak when the Bears face Texas Tech at 6 p.m. Wednesday at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock.
"There's a lot of season left, but it's going to go by very, very quickly," said first-year head coach Ryan McGuyre. "The things we're working on, improvements we've made, we've got to hold on to that and continue to add something to it for the second half to get a few more wins."
The Bears (14-9, 2-7), tied for sixth in the Big 12 standings, begin a favorable stretch in their schedule that sees them playing four teams that have combined for just 10 league victories. Tech (13-11, 2-8) has been swept in eight of its last nine league matches since opening Big 12 play with a 3-2 win over Oklahoma.
That included a 3-0 loss to Baylor on Sept. 30 in Waco, when Katie Staiger (11), Shelly Fanning (10) and Andie Malloy (10) posted double-digit kills.
"We swept them in three here, but we had to really crawl back into it in that third set," McGuyre said. "Teams tend to play more comfortable at home. I thought we did a good job of making them feel uncomfortable in what they were trying to do. So, we need to be able to go on the road and do that. (Against Kansas), we knew what was coming and we slowed it down a little bit here. They really ran a lot of the same stuff, we just didn't slow down as much. So, we need to make sure our defense is dialed-in."
McGuyre said the last three matches are "probably the first time I feel that our youthfulness is starting to catch up with us a little bit." Fanning and fellow freshman Jordan Vail are part of the team's 10-player rotation and are into the third month of their first collegiate season.
"Early on, all these freshmen didn't know any better and were doing great things," McGuyre said. "But I think that balance of studies and the rigor and the travel, you've really got to manage your time well. You need to make wise decisions. Even our 4.0 students that want to keep those 4.0s are feeling that battle and that tug a little bit more."
Tech holds a 47-28 edge in the all-time series, including a 25-11 record in Lubbock, but the Bears have won 20 of the last 22 matchups overall and nine of the last 10 on the road.
One interesting note about Wednesday's match is that both teams have setters named Morgan Reed. The Bears' Reed has played in all 23 matches this season and ranks second on the team with 4.62 assists per set, while Tech's Reed recently returned from an injury and had 26 assists and nine digs in a match against Kansas State.
After Wednesday, Baylor will play its next three matches at home with West Virginia (5-16, 0-8) at 7 p.m. Saturday, TCU (16-6, 6-4) next Wednesday and Oklahoma (8-13, 2-7) the following Sunday, Nov. 15.
"Some of those tough losses we've had, Oklahoma and TCU, we get those teams at home the second time through," McGuyre said. "There's definitely an energy that, `Hey, we want to represent who we are and what we've done and the work we've put in, and definitely showcase the talent and ability we have."
