Baylor
Sam Houston State
Volleyball Tops Sam Houston State in Five Sets
9/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
WACO, Texas -- For the second straight match Baylor volleyball came from behind to win the final two sets and defeat Sam Houston State in five sets, 25-21, 21-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-9, on Friday afternoon at the Ferrell Center. The win was the Bears' third-straight five-set victory this season.
The match saw nine tie scores and four lead changes in the first set before Baylor (3-1) used an ace by Katie Staiger for the team's first set point of the match. After the first set win, the Bears were buried by seven attack errors and Sam Houston State took advantage with three blocks at the net, taking set two 25-21. Baylor continued to play from behind after the Bearkats (3-2) used a .270 hitting effort to take the third set and lead the match 2-1.
Baylor never looked back in the final two sets as the Bears fought back to take set four, 25-19, and force a fifth set with a cross-court kill by Shelly Fanning. The Bears used a 6-0 run to start the fifth set and comfortably take it, 15-9.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor never trailed in the final two sets and opened the fifth set on a 6-0 run after a block by Adrien Richburg and Katie Staiger.
• The Bears used a balanced effort at the net with three players in double-digit kills: Shelly Fanning with 17, Katie Staiger with 13 and Tola Itiola with 10.
• Adrien Richburg finished with a match-high eight blocks in the five-set win.
• Amy Rosenbaum had her second double-double of the season and 10th of her career, contributing 34 assists and 12 digs.
• Adrien Richburg hit a team-high .375 for the match with four kills and one error in eight attacks.
STAT OF THE DAY
.297 -- the attacking percentage by Baylor in the fourth set to force a fifth and final set, a match high for either team.
TOP QUOTE
"If we win in five every time, then I'm okay with that. It's disappointing that we went to five sets, but we finished and played strong." -- Head Coach Ryan McGuyre
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor returns to the floor against Coppin State Saturday morning at 10 a.m. CT in the Hampton Inn Waco North Baylor Invitational at the Ferrell Center. The Bears will also play a night match against Cal Poly for the final tournament game, beginning at 7 p.m. CT.
