Florida State (0-0) 2016 Record: 26-6 Head Coach: Chris Poole BU vs. FSU: FSU leads, 3-0	Friday, Aug. 25 vs. Florida State, 7 p.m. Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas) Stats: Video and Audio: BaylorBears.com/AllAccess
Illinois State (0-0) 2016 Record: 17-15 Head Coach: Leah Johnson BU vs. ISU: Tied, 1-1	Saturday, Aug. 26 vs. Illinois State, 7 p.m. Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas) Stats: Video and Audio: BaylorBears.com/AllAccess
UC Santa Barbara (0-0) 2016 Record: 17-12 Head Coach: Nicole Lantagne BU vs. UCSB: UCSB leads, 1-0	Sunday, Aug. 27 vs. UC Santa Barbara, 2 p.m. Ferrell Center (Waco, Texas) Stats: Video and Audio: BaylorBears.com/AllAccess

Game Notes | Tournament Central

WORKING WITH A FULL DECK
Volleyball Opening Against #15 Florida State

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation

With Baylor volleyball losing players left and right a year ago, Katie Staiger got to see "what this program is all about."

"We're definitely playing together, playing for something bigger than ourselves," said Staiger, a fifth-year senior who earned All-Big 12 and second-team All-America honors last season with a school-record 698 kills, finishing just two shy of the conference mark. "The coolest thing is just the way that, regardless of what was going on, we stayed focused on our goal and we didn't make excuses for the adversity we faced. But, I definitely think the Lord has something special for this season, just in the way we can build off of last year."

Despite losing middle blockers Tola Itiola, Shelly Fanning and Jaelyn Jackson to injuries, the Bears turned in a special season last year, going 22-12 and making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years. They upset 14th-ranked San Diego in a five-setter before bowing out at No. 10 UCLA.

"It really showed a lot of the girls that disappointment is normally the start of something great, the beginning of a journey," said head coach Ryan McGuire, who opens his third season at Baylor with a matchup against 15th-ranked Florida State at 7 p.m. Friday on the first day of the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational at the Ferrell Center.

"We don't always know what that looks like, but it's not the end. With that said, I was excited how disappointed we were after the UCLA loss. I think that's stoking the fire. That's not the end of something great but the start of what we're trying to do."

Staiger headlines a list of 14 returners that also includes libero Jana Brusek and middle blocker Camryn Freiberg, a pair of second-team All-Big 12 picks. McGuyre also brought in a top-20 recruiting class that features a pair of prep All-Americans, setter Hannah Lockin from Des Moines, Iowa, and outside hitter Yossi Pressley from Cypress, Texas, along with 6-6 outside hitter Marieke van der Mark from The Netherlands.

But, the biggest additions are the three middle blockers that were sidelined last year. Itiola and Fanning are back on the court already, while Jackson is expected to return next month from the ACL injury she suffered in last year's conference opener.

"They are significantly better because they're healthy, they're significantly better because they get to compete against one another," McGuyre said of having Itiola and Fanning back. "It's not a male practice player, it's not a coach on a box, it's not me trying to jump out there and try and keep up with them. It's these high-level athletes that really want to get better. . . . When you see it, it holds more permanence than just us barking at them, trying to make them do it."

They also give McGuyre easily the deepest team he's had in his three years at Baylor. There is competition at every spot on the floor.

"We have people who can put the ball away from everywhere," said Staiger, who had double-digit kills in 33 of the 34 matches last year, "people who can pass and lots of girls that will be coming in off the bench that can do it, too. That's probably the biggest thing, I think, just our mentality. We're really focused, we know the system we have now, and we're excited to implement it and use all the interchangeable parts."

There's also depth at the setter position, but sophomores Braya Hunt and Hannah Fluegel had just 58 assists between them last season and played in less than a quarter of the team's sets. Lockin had a team-high 27 assists in the Green & Gold Scrimmage, then followed that up with 35 assists, five digs, two blocks and a kill in a 3-0 exhibition win over Rice.

"Hannah Lockin did a great job for us at Rice, and that was really because of `what have you done for us lately.' She shined brightest in the Green & Gold Scrimmage," McGuyre said. "She's a physical girl, she's one of the best blockers we have in the gym. She takes the ball really high, so it kind of helps with the middles. If our passing is not dialed-in, she's able to save some sets and turn not-so-perfect passes into great passes."

Baylor was picked a program-best third in the Big 12 coaches' preseason poll and received votes in the AVCA preseason national rankings for the first time in 17 years. The goals and the expectations have never been higher.

"We were good last year because of our chemistry and we just found a way to play well together," McGuyre said. "The overall talent and experience are much higher than last year, but it will come down to that chemistry and how well our setters replace Morgan (Reed). Tactically, I think they'll be pretty good, but Morgan provided great leadership. Alex (Bannister) gave us good energy and brought some fearlessness. So, we'll need that chemistry, we'll need that fearlessness.

"I look forward to it, because there will be some challenges in figuring out who's going to be out there on the court. But, it's going to be fun working with a group of girls that want to go all-in. That trust factor, I feel, is there. And you've got to trust before you win."

Baylor opens with one of its biggest challenges, facing a Florida State team that has made seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and been to the Sweet 16 three of the last four years. McGuyre was the Seminoles' associate head coach in 2013-14 before taking over the reins at Baylor.

"Obviously, I know Coach (Chris) Poole and their staff, they train extremely well," McGuyre said. "They're big, they're physical, they had one of the top-rated recruiting classes in the country. From the physicality part, it's going to be a very intense match."

The three-day tournament opens with Illinois State facing UC Santa Barbara at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by Baylor vs. Florida State at 7 p.m. Friday's primetime match will be televised by Fox Sports Southwest Plus, with "Voice of the Bears" John Morris calling the action and Bannister providing color commentary.

As part of the Pack the House Night promotion, all tickets to Friday's match cost $1. Additionally, the first 200 Baylor students in attendance will receive a wristband for front-row seats for the Traditions Rally concert next Friday, featuring Judah and the Lion.

Saturday's tournament schedule kicks off with Florida State facing Illinois State at 11:30 a.m., followed by UC Santa Barbara versus the Seminoles at 4:30 p.m. and Baylor playing Illinois State at 7. In the tournament finale, the Bears will face UC Santa Barbara at 2 p.m. Sunday.

"These early matches are really kind of a measuring test on where we're at," McGuyre said. "Have we set the standards high enough in our practice and how we compete? Are we holding ourselves to a high enough standard? And then, what do we do from here? Coming out of the match against a great opponent like Florida State, win or lose, it's going to sharpen us."

BU first challenges the Seminoles in a 7 p.m. contest on Friday night, then the Bears return to action vs. the Redbirds Saturday at 7 p.m. Baylor closes the Baylor Invitational with a 2 p.m. matchup against the UCSB Gauchos on Sunday.

Friday's match will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Southwest Plus, hosted by John Morris and Baylor volleyball alum Alex Banister.

All tickets for Baylor's match vs. Florida State are $1 as part of Pack the House Night. Tickets for the other weekend matches will be $5 for general admission.

The first 200 students in attendance will receive a wristband for front-row seats at the Traditions Rally concert, which will feature Judah and the Lion on Friday, Sept. 1.

BAYLOR IN SEASON OPENERS
- Baylor volleyball will open its season at home for the 11th time, including for the second straight year.
- The Baylor volleyball program is 20-19 all-time in season openers, and 6-4 in season openers at home.
- Third-year head coach Ryan McGuyre is looking for his first victory to open a season at Baylor. He is currently 0-2 in season openers.
- Last season, BU dropped a four-set match to UTRGV at the Baylor Invitational to open the 2016 campaign. In McGuyre's first season, the Bears dropped a three-set match to No. 12 Colorado State in Fort Collins to open the 2015 season.

BEARS VS. BAYLOR INVITATIONAL OPPONENTS
- Baylor is a combined 1-5 all-time against Florida State, Illinois State and UC Santa Barbara.
- The Bears will look for the program's first victories over the Seminoles and Gauchos this weekend.
- BU faced Florida State and UC Santa Barbara last season, falling short in both matches on the road.
- Baylor lost a tight 3-2 battle against the Seminoles in Tallahassee (Sept. 8), and the Gauchos topped the Bears with a 3-0 victory in Santa Barbara (Sept. 2).
- BU and Illinois State last met on Sept. 12, 2014 where the Bears came out with a five-set victory.

BACK FROM INJURY
- The 2017 team will return three starters from injury -- middle blockers Tola Itiola and Jaelyn Jackson and outside hitter Shelly Fanning.
- Jackson suffered a season-ending injury during BU's 2016 conference opener against Kansas State. She contributed 78 kills in 17 matches prior to her injury.
- Itiola and Fanning sat out all last season with their injuries. Fanning was an All-Big 12 and All-Freshman team selection in 2015.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Friday, Aug. 25
4 p.m. -- UCSB vs. Illinois St.
7 p.m. -- Baylor vs. Florida St.

Saturday, Aug. 26
11:30 a.m. -- Florida St. vs. Illinois St.
4:30 p.m. -- Florida St. vs. UCSB
7 p.m. -- Baylor vs. Illinois St.

Sunday, Aug. 27
2 p.m. -- Baylor vs. UCSB

TICKET INFO:
www.baylorbears.com/tickets

WATCH/LISTEN:
Radio: BaylorBears.com (Paid)
Talent: Larry Little, PBP
TV: FSSW+ (BU vs. FSU match only)
Talent: John Morris and Alex Banister
Live Stats: BaylorBears.com