Friday, November 16
Waco, Texas
6:00 p.m. CT
Baylor
vs
Texas
Preview: VB Hosts No. 5 Texas for #BaylorLights Match
11/15/2018 2:46:00 PM | Volleyball
Bears look for seventh consecutive Big 12 win Friday night
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation
Even though Baylor volleyball hasn't beaten Texas in 17 years and is 2-88 all time, Ryan McGuyre says the Bears still believe they can beat the No. 5 Longhorns.
"I feel like we believe every match," said McGuyre, whose Bears (18-8, 10-4) face Texas (17-4, 12-1) at 6 p.m. Friday at the Ferrell Center in a matchup of the Big 12's top two teams over the last two seasons. "We got Wisconsin, which beat Texas a long, long time ago. And that's really irrelevant, other than if somebody is having doubts, they can hold on to that one. But, I don't think belief is an issue."
After splitting the eight matches in the first round of conference play, the Bears have reeled off six straight and can finish off a second-half sweep with wins over Texas on Friday and last-place West Virginia (11-16, 2-11) next Wednesday.
"Team-wise, we wanted to be able to run the table in the second half of conference," McGuyre said. "First half, we stubbed our toes and didn't play as clean and we weren't as healthy as we wanted to be. We enjoyed the challenge of seeing if we can go undefeated in the second half. We want to finish that part off and make sure we have a great second half of conference but also a good capstone to our resume for the (NCAA) committee."
One of the keys to a better second half, which included road wins at TCU, Oklahoma, Kansas State and Texas Tech, was just being healthier. For the most part, the Bears have been at full strength for the stretch drive.
"It just gives you more options," McGuyre said. "It makes practices better, because people are back to pushing one another again. It also keeps you fresher. When you have injured players, the other ones are carrying a heavier load, so you have to try to manager their jumps and swings. So, when everyone's healthy, you can accomplish what you want and still keep people fresh."
Baylor sophomore outside hitter Yossiana Pressley is averaging a league-leading 4.91 kills per set and has recorded nine double-doubles after posting just one double-double last season.
The Bears have recorded double-digit wins at home (10-3) for the fourth consecutive year under McGuyre, who is 43-16 overall at the Ferrell Center. Last year's 13-4 record tied a program record for home-court victories that was set with a 13-1 mark in 1999.
Facing Texas is a challenge, McGuyre said, because "they're physical, so all their hitters are playing high above the net. So, they have more angles than any other team in the conference and have just as much heat as everybody's best player. They can come at you from every position."
While he is still looking for his first win against Texas (0-7), McGuyre said it doesn't necessarily drive him, because "when you've been coaching long enough, I think it's just a matter of time."
"You don't want to create your own obstacles for you there. It's a day at a time."
WACO, Texas – Baylor volleyball (18-7, 10-4 Big 12) has a big matchup ahead as it hosts No. 5 Texas during Friday's #BaylorLights match at 6 p.m. CT at the Ferrell Center in Waco.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early in participate in pregame introductions with free glow batons at the door.
The matchup will air on FOX Sports Southwest Plus with John Morris and Katie Staiger on the call.
Monday's match is the fourth match the Bears are playing in a nine-day span. BU took down Iowa State at home last Wednesday and then went on the road to defeat Kansas State last Saturday in Manhattan, Kan., and Texas Tech in Lubbock on Monday.
Baylor looks for its first win over UT since 2001 and seventh-straight Big 12 victory.
TOP-TWO BIG 12 TEAMS BATTLE ON #BAYLORLIGHTS NIGHT IN WACO
• After a two-match road swing, Baylor volleyball returns home to host No. 5 Texas Friday night in Waco.
• BU looks to remain perfect in the second half of conference play with its seventh-straight Big 12 victory.
• The Bears are currently 4-2 in conference home matches in 2018, recently beating ISU on Nov. 7.
• A matchup between the top two teams in the league, the Bears look for an upset of the Longhorns as they seek their second top-five win of the season and their third win ever against Texas.
• The Bears have not beaten UT since Oct. 27, 2001 where BU secured the victory in five sets in Waco.
• The Bears look to take at least a set from UT in Waco for the third consecutive year.
• Baylor looks to avoid a season sweep against UT for the 17th consecutive season.
• Friday is the #BaylorLights match with glow batons distributed to fans to participate in pregame intros.
LAST TIME VS. TEXAS (Sept. 26, 2018)
• 21st-ranked Baylor volleyball couldn't overcome a season-high 14 service errors in a three-set loss to fourth-ranked Texas Wednesday, Sept. 26 at Gregory Gymnasium, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15. • Yossiana Pressley paced all players with 11 kills while Gia Milana and Aniah Philo contributed eight each.
• The Bears committed a season-high 14 service errors and the most since BU's 2017 season opener against Florida State (16).
• Aniah Philo matched a season-high 21 digs and added 10 kills for her sixth double-double.
LAST TIME VS. THE LONGHORNS IN WACO (Nov. 25, 2017)
• No. 18 Baylor volleyball ended its seven-match Big 12 winning streak with a 3-1 loss on Senior Day to No. 2 Texas Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Ferrell Center, 27-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19. • The Bears closed out a remarkable regular season, finishing with the best regular season winning record (.793) since the 1999 squad. Baylor also ends a program-best Big 12 season that saw them finish in second behind Texas (24-2, 16-0 Big 12) for the first time in program history.
• The attendance of 2,979 checks in as the 4th-largest crowd to watch a volleyball match at the Ferrell Center.
• With her second career double-double, freshman Yossiana Pressley paced all players with 23 kills and a career-high 13 digs in the loss.
• Aniah Philo also posted her 20th career double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs. Hannah Lockin joined the double-double party with 41 assists and 11 digs.
Baylor Bear Foundation
Even though Baylor volleyball hasn't beaten Texas in 17 years and is 2-88 all time, Ryan McGuyre says the Bears still believe they can beat the No. 5 Longhorns.
"I feel like we believe every match," said McGuyre, whose Bears (18-8, 10-4) face Texas (17-4, 12-1) at 6 p.m. Friday at the Ferrell Center in a matchup of the Big 12's top two teams over the last two seasons. "We got Wisconsin, which beat Texas a long, long time ago. And that's really irrelevant, other than if somebody is having doubts, they can hold on to that one. But, I don't think belief is an issue."
After splitting the eight matches in the first round of conference play, the Bears have reeled off six straight and can finish off a second-half sweep with wins over Texas on Friday and last-place West Virginia (11-16, 2-11) next Wednesday.
"Team-wise, we wanted to be able to run the table in the second half of conference," McGuyre said. "First half, we stubbed our toes and didn't play as clean and we weren't as healthy as we wanted to be. We enjoyed the challenge of seeing if we can go undefeated in the second half. We want to finish that part off and make sure we have a great second half of conference but also a good capstone to our resume for the (NCAA) committee."
One of the keys to a better second half, which included road wins at TCU, Oklahoma, Kansas State and Texas Tech, was just being healthier. For the most part, the Bears have been at full strength for the stretch drive.
"It just gives you more options," McGuyre said. "It makes practices better, because people are back to pushing one another again. It also keeps you fresher. When you have injured players, the other ones are carrying a heavier load, so you have to try to manager their jumps and swings. So, when everyone's healthy, you can accomplish what you want and still keep people fresh."
Baylor sophomore outside hitter Yossiana Pressley is averaging a league-leading 4.91 kills per set and has recorded nine double-doubles after posting just one double-double last season.
The Bears have recorded double-digit wins at home (10-3) for the fourth consecutive year under McGuyre, who is 43-16 overall at the Ferrell Center. Last year's 13-4 record tied a program record for home-court victories that was set with a 13-1 mark in 1999.
Facing Texas is a challenge, McGuyre said, because "they're physical, so all their hitters are playing high above the net. So, they have more angles than any other team in the conference and have just as much heat as everybody's best player. They can come at you from every position."
While he is still looking for his first win against Texas (0-7), McGuyre said it doesn't necessarily drive him, because "when you've been coaching long enough, I think it's just a matter of time."
"You don't want to create your own obstacles for you there. It's a day at a time."
WACO, Texas – Baylor volleyball (18-7, 10-4 Big 12) has a big matchup ahead as it hosts No. 5 Texas during Friday's #BaylorLights match at 6 p.m. CT at the Ferrell Center in Waco.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early in participate in pregame introductions with free glow batons at the door.
The matchup will air on FOX Sports Southwest Plus with John Morris and Katie Staiger on the call.
Monday's match is the fourth match the Bears are playing in a nine-day span. BU took down Iowa State at home last Wednesday and then went on the road to defeat Kansas State last Saturday in Manhattan, Kan., and Texas Tech in Lubbock on Monday.
Baylor looks for its first win over UT since 2001 and seventh-straight Big 12 victory.
TOP-TWO BIG 12 TEAMS BATTLE ON #BAYLORLIGHTS NIGHT IN WACO
• After a two-match road swing, Baylor volleyball returns home to host No. 5 Texas Friday night in Waco.
• BU looks to remain perfect in the second half of conference play with its seventh-straight Big 12 victory.
• The Bears are currently 4-2 in conference home matches in 2018, recently beating ISU on Nov. 7.
• A matchup between the top two teams in the league, the Bears look for an upset of the Longhorns as they seek their second top-five win of the season and their third win ever against Texas.
• The Bears have not beaten UT since Oct. 27, 2001 where BU secured the victory in five sets in Waco.
• The Bears look to take at least a set from UT in Waco for the third consecutive year.
• Baylor looks to avoid a season sweep against UT for the 17th consecutive season.
• Friday is the #BaylorLights match with glow batons distributed to fans to participate in pregame intros.
LAST TIME VS. TEXAS (Sept. 26, 2018)
• 21st-ranked Baylor volleyball couldn't overcome a season-high 14 service errors in a three-set loss to fourth-ranked Texas Wednesday, Sept. 26 at Gregory Gymnasium, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15. • Yossiana Pressley paced all players with 11 kills while Gia Milana and Aniah Philo contributed eight each.
• The Bears committed a season-high 14 service errors and the most since BU's 2017 season opener against Florida State (16).
• Aniah Philo matched a season-high 21 digs and added 10 kills for her sixth double-double.
LAST TIME VS. THE LONGHORNS IN WACO (Nov. 25, 2017)
• No. 18 Baylor volleyball ended its seven-match Big 12 winning streak with a 3-1 loss on Senior Day to No. 2 Texas Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Ferrell Center, 27-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19. • The Bears closed out a remarkable regular season, finishing with the best regular season winning record (.793) since the 1999 squad. Baylor also ends a program-best Big 12 season that saw them finish in second behind Texas (24-2, 16-0 Big 12) for the first time in program history.
• The attendance of 2,979 checks in as the 4th-largest crowd to watch a volleyball match at the Ferrell Center.
• With her second career double-double, freshman Yossiana Pressley paced all players with 23 kills and a career-high 13 digs in the loss.
• Aniah Philo also posted her 20th career double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs. Hannah Lockin joined the double-double party with 41 assists and 11 digs.
Players Mentioned
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