Friday, September 7
Waco, Texas
6:00 p.m. CT
Baylor
vs
Wisconsin
Preview: No. 15 VB Ready for Three-Match Home Slate
9/6/2018 1:29:00 PM | Volleyball
Bears open weekend play against No. 2 Wisconsin, then host Baylor Classic
WACO, Texas – 15th-ranked Baylor volleyball (4-2) will host three teams this weekend at the Ferrell Center, opening with a Friday night matchup against second-ranked Wisconsin at 6 p.m. CT.
Then, the Bears host the Baylor Classic with matches against UTRGV at 11 a.m. and Rice at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Friday's top-15 showdown will be live on Fox Sports Southwest with "Voice of the Bears" John Morris and BU volleyball record holder Katie Staiger on the call. Saturday's matches will be streamed live on the team's official Facebook page (@BaylorVball).
The Bears will sign post-match autographs following Friday's Wisconsin match.
Tickets for this weekend will be $5 for general admission and $3 for groups of 12 or more.
BEARS RETURN HOME TO HOST WISCONSIN, BAYLOR CLASSIC
• Baylor volleyball will play three matches this weekend, first hosting second-ranked Wisconsin in a top-15 non-conference match. Then, BU will host the Baylor Classic and face UTRGV and Rice on Saturday.
• The Bears look for its highest win over a ranked opponent in program history against the Badgers.
• BU's highest ranked win came on two occasions: BU beat ninth-ranked Kansas State at home on Sept. 24, 2003 and then beat a ninth-ranked UCLA team in the 2009 NCAA Tournament on Dec. 5, 2009.
• Baylor and Wisconsin will play each other for the first time on Friday. UTRGV holds a 1-0 series advantage while Rice leads 23-19 in the all-time series.
• BU is 0-1 against UTRGV and 1-0 against Rice under fourth-year head coach Ryan McGuyre.
• Baylor will play its third straight ranked opponent on Friday, currently at 0-2 this season.
BAYLOR MOVES TO NO. 15 IN LATEST AVCA COACHES POLL
• After an 0-2 weekend in San Diego, the Bears moved down three spots to No. 15 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll.
• Last week, the Bears received a program-best No. 12 ranking. The No. 12 ranking shattered the previous the all-time program record set in 2009 at No. 17.
• The Bears are ranked for the 29th time in program history and have been listed in the poll for eight straight weeks dating back to the 2017 season.
• Baylor has nine matches slated against ranked opponents or teams receiving votes, including: No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 6 Texas, No. 9 UCLA, No. 16 San Diego, No. 25 Marquette, Iowa State and LSU.
• Dating back to last season, the Bears are playing in their 19th consecutive match as a ranked team.
• Baylor is currently 4-2 as a ranked team in 2018.
IMPRESSIVE PRESSLEY LEADS ON THE OUTSIDE
• Sophomore outside hitter and returning All-American Yossiana Pressley has elevated her game during her second season in Waco, averaging over a kill more at 4.83 kills per set and 2.33 digs per set as a six-rotation player.
• She has reached 20 or more kills in four of the six matches this season, matching a career-high 24 against San Diego and setting a career-high 73 attacks against UCLA.
• She has posted four double-doubles already this season after compiling just two all of last year.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
• Baylor opened its season with a 4-0 record at home, earning its most recent victory against North Texas on Aug. 28.
• With an 13-4 home record, Baylor matched its highest home win mark in program history during the 2017 season. Baylor went 13-1 during the 1999 campaign.
• The Bears did not play a five-set match at the Ferrell Center last season, defeating seven opponents in straight sets and six in four sets.
• Baylor is 37-13 in home matches under fourth-year head coach Ryan McGuyre.
TEAM NOTABLES
• Baylor went 4-0 to start the season for the first time since 2012.
• Baylor looks for its first win over a ranked opponent this season. Last season, BU went 4-4.
• BU has led in attacking percentage in all four matches this season and has held every opponent under a .250 hitting effort.
• Baylor is 4-0 after winning the first set in 2018.
• Baylor has never lost a match while leading 2-0 under McGuyre (44-0).
LAST TIME VS. UTRGV
• Baylor volleyball dropped a 3-1 decision to UT Rio Grande Valley in the team's 2016 season opener at the Hampton Inn Waco North Baylor Invitational on Aug. 26, 25-23, 20-25, 28-26, 25-21.
• BU was led by redshirt junior Katie Staiger, who finished with a career-high 28 kills and 15 digs. It was her first double-double since Sept. 3, 2014 against Texas State.
• Senior setter Morgan Reed led all players with a career-high 56 assists and added 17 digs for her first career double-double as a Bear.
• Junior libero Jana Brusek finished with a match-high 20 digs in the four-set loss.
LAST TIME VS. RICE
• Baylor volleyball fought off an early deficit to defeat Rice 16-25, 25-15, 26-24, 25-16 and win the 2015 Baylor Classic on Sept. 19, 2015 at the Ferrell Center.
• Katie Staiger led the Bears with 13 kills on 28 swings, a .429 hitting effort.
• Morgan Reed led with 26 assists in the match.
• Along with the tournament title, three Bears were named to the all-tournament team: Amy Rosenbaum (Best Setter), Andie Malloy (Best Blocker) and Katie Staiger (Tournament MVP).
Then, the Bears host the Baylor Classic with matches against UTRGV at 11 a.m. and Rice at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Friday's top-15 showdown will be live on Fox Sports Southwest with "Voice of the Bears" John Morris and BU volleyball record holder Katie Staiger on the call. Saturday's matches will be streamed live on the team's official Facebook page (@BaylorVball).
The Bears will sign post-match autographs following Friday's Wisconsin match.
Tickets for this weekend will be $5 for general admission and $3 for groups of 12 or more.
BEARS RETURN HOME TO HOST WISCONSIN, BAYLOR CLASSIC
• Baylor volleyball will play three matches this weekend, first hosting second-ranked Wisconsin in a top-15 non-conference match. Then, BU will host the Baylor Classic and face UTRGV and Rice on Saturday.
• The Bears look for its highest win over a ranked opponent in program history against the Badgers.
• BU's highest ranked win came on two occasions: BU beat ninth-ranked Kansas State at home on Sept. 24, 2003 and then beat a ninth-ranked UCLA team in the 2009 NCAA Tournament on Dec. 5, 2009.
• Baylor and Wisconsin will play each other for the first time on Friday. UTRGV holds a 1-0 series advantage while Rice leads 23-19 in the all-time series.
• BU is 0-1 against UTRGV and 1-0 against Rice under fourth-year head coach Ryan McGuyre.
• Baylor will play its third straight ranked opponent on Friday, currently at 0-2 this season.
BAYLOR MOVES TO NO. 15 IN LATEST AVCA COACHES POLL
• After an 0-2 weekend in San Diego, the Bears moved down three spots to No. 15 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll.
• Last week, the Bears received a program-best No. 12 ranking. The No. 12 ranking shattered the previous the all-time program record set in 2009 at No. 17.
• The Bears are ranked for the 29th time in program history and have been listed in the poll for eight straight weeks dating back to the 2017 season.
• Baylor has nine matches slated against ranked opponents or teams receiving votes, including: No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 6 Texas, No. 9 UCLA, No. 16 San Diego, No. 25 Marquette, Iowa State and LSU.
• Dating back to last season, the Bears are playing in their 19th consecutive match as a ranked team.
• Baylor is currently 4-2 as a ranked team in 2018.
IMPRESSIVE PRESSLEY LEADS ON THE OUTSIDE
• Sophomore outside hitter and returning All-American Yossiana Pressley has elevated her game during her second season in Waco, averaging over a kill more at 4.83 kills per set and 2.33 digs per set as a six-rotation player.
• She has reached 20 or more kills in four of the six matches this season, matching a career-high 24 against San Diego and setting a career-high 73 attacks against UCLA.
• She has posted four double-doubles already this season after compiling just two all of last year.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
• Baylor opened its season with a 4-0 record at home, earning its most recent victory against North Texas on Aug. 28.
• With an 13-4 home record, Baylor matched its highest home win mark in program history during the 2017 season. Baylor went 13-1 during the 1999 campaign.
• The Bears did not play a five-set match at the Ferrell Center last season, defeating seven opponents in straight sets and six in four sets.
• Baylor is 37-13 in home matches under fourth-year head coach Ryan McGuyre.
TEAM NOTABLES
• Baylor went 4-0 to start the season for the first time since 2012.
• Baylor looks for its first win over a ranked opponent this season. Last season, BU went 4-4.
• BU has led in attacking percentage in all four matches this season and has held every opponent under a .250 hitting effort.
• Baylor is 4-0 after winning the first set in 2018.
• Baylor has never lost a match while leading 2-0 under McGuyre (44-0).
LAST TIME VS. UTRGV
• Baylor volleyball dropped a 3-1 decision to UT Rio Grande Valley in the team's 2016 season opener at the Hampton Inn Waco North Baylor Invitational on Aug. 26, 25-23, 20-25, 28-26, 25-21.
• BU was led by redshirt junior Katie Staiger, who finished with a career-high 28 kills and 15 digs. It was her first double-double since Sept. 3, 2014 against Texas State.
• Senior setter Morgan Reed led all players with a career-high 56 assists and added 17 digs for her first career double-double as a Bear.
• Junior libero Jana Brusek finished with a match-high 20 digs in the four-set loss.
LAST TIME VS. RICE
• Baylor volleyball fought off an early deficit to defeat Rice 16-25, 25-15, 26-24, 25-16 and win the 2015 Baylor Classic on Sept. 19, 2015 at the Ferrell Center.
• Katie Staiger led the Bears with 13 kills on 28 swings, a .429 hitting effort.
• Morgan Reed led with 26 assists in the match.
• Along with the tournament title, three Bears were named to the all-tournament team: Amy Rosenbaum (Best Setter), Andie Malloy (Best Blocker) and Katie Staiger (Tournament MVP).
Players Mentioned
Big cat week at Ferrell brought to you by the letter "W"
Thursday, October 16
The Finisher from the Freshman!
Thursday, October 16
Baylor Volleyball: Highlights vs. Kansas State | October 15, 2025
Thursday, October 16
Ksenia notched a career-high of 1️⃣7️⃣ kills against Arizona!
Monday, October 13
