No. 5 Seed VB Falls in Regional Semifinals

Thursday, December 9

Madison, Wis.

2PM

Baylor

22-6,14-2Big 12

Minnesota

22-8,14-5Big Ten

Minnesota

Baylor

No. 5 Seed VB Falls in Regional Semifinals

12/9/2021 7:28:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Bears played five sets against No. 12 Minnesota

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            MADISON, Wis. – Rather than dwelling on the "hundred different things we wish we could have done better," Ryan McGuyre chose to celebrate a senior class that "transformed Baylor volleyball and has taken us to unchartered territory."
            A group led by fifth-year senior All-Americans Yossiana Pressley and Hannah Sedwick saw their season and career end Thursday afternoon in falling to 12^th-seeded Minnesota in a five-set classic, 26-28, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 15-10, in the region semifinals at UW Field House.
            "I think there was one Sweet 16 in 40 or 50 years of history, and they've been able to be a part of three-straight," said McGuyre, whose fifth-seeded Bears finished with a 22-6 record. "I'm really indebted to them, as well as the other seniors, in trusting me, trusting the experience at Baylor.
            "I'm a big believer that disappointment is still just a part of the journey and not the end. . . . The disappointment of this evening for us, I'm sure, is going to continue to launch these athletes into greater and bigger and successful endeavors."
            For the Bears, the season ended where it began. But, when they played Minnesota more than three months ago in the season-opening Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge at this same venue, Baylor ended it in the fourth set with a 28-26 win.
            It looked like this was going to go the same way, especially when the Bears jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the fourth set, already up 2-1 in sets. Pressley, who had a match-high 22 kills, served up an ace to give Baylor that five-point lead.
            Even when the Gophers (23-8) went on a 9-2 run to go up 19-16, the Bears answered with three-straight points of their own and took a 22-21 lead on Melani Shaffmaster's attacking error.
            But, with Baylor three points away from ending the match, Bri Coleman's service error into the net started a closing 4-1 run by the Gophers that forced a fifth set when All-American Stephanie Somedy blasted a set-clinching kill.
            "It's a fine line," McGuyre said of the Bears' 12 service errors. "Bri's going to serve an ace because she hit the zone. We talk about hitting the mat. We put the mat there, and she hits the mat. And then the next one, she doesn't. For the others, they hit the zone a few times, and then they don't. That's our sport, consistency wins. Pass, set, hit, whoever can do it the most often is normally going to win by two or three points."
            Just like the fourth set, the Bears took the early lead in the fifth, getting off to a 6-2 start with kills by Pressley, Avery Skinner and Lauren Harrison and a Coleman ace.
            But, Minnesota responded again, reeling off five-straight points to take the lead. Another critical service error, this time by Shanel Bramschreiber at 10-10, sparked another 5-0 run by the Gophers and they closed it out when Marieke van der Mark hit it long on a swing from the right side.
            "At this level, the margins are really thin," McGuyre said. "And they were able to make plays at the end to finish off sets three times, and we were able to do it a couple of times. . . . I thought it was good volleyball, really good volleyball at times. The defenses kind of picked up a little bit toward the back half of the match. For both teams, it was harder to terminate and get points."
            Baylor finished with a higher hitting percentage (.175 to .166) and more kills (68-58) and digs (75-73), but Minnesota was plus-9 in the service game with a 6-5 edge in aces and only four service errors compared to the Bears' 12.
            "Just really impressed with the way we battled and competed, even when it was really hard to battle and compete, and find ways to win when it was difficult to do," Minnesota coach Hugh McCutcheon said.
            Skinner posted her team-high 10^th double-double of the season with 16 kills and 16 digs, with the Kentucky transfer recording 355 of her 1,176 career kills in her one season at Baylor. Pressley (22 kills, 12 digs) had her seventh double-double of the year and finished her career with a school-record 2,395 kills, while Sedwick (60 assists, 14 digs) also had her seventh double-double and ended up fourth on Baylor's career assists list with 4,805.
            "So many great memories," Pressley said, "so many memories where I'm crying, bleeding, going through injuries. It's awesome just to play the sport of volleyball and love it and have so much passion for. I will cherish the great memories, even the bad ones. Yes, it ended, but I have lifelong sisters and brothers in Christ. It was a great career."
            Sedwick said she was "thankful for where the Lord has brought us." That included five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, a Big 12 title and Final Four run in 2019 and two more trips to the Sweet 16.
            "I'm thankful for how Coach Mac has poured into me and the team throughout our careers," she said. "Yes, it's about the volleyball career, but I'm just so thankful for the character and just the life lessons that have meant so much more and will mean so much more in the future. Volleyball was the avenue to get there, so just really thankful for that."
            Minnesota advances to face fourth-seeded Wisconsin (28-3) in the region final at 7 p.m. Saturday with a Final Four berth on the line.

MADISON, Wisc. – No. 5 seed Baylor volleyball fell to No. 12 seed Minnesota on Thursday afternoon in UW Field House after going five sets with the Gophers.

The Bears finish the season with a 22-6 record, the sixth-straight season they have raked in 20 or more wins. The season came to a close against the Gophers (23-8) in BU's third-straight Regional Semifinal appearance.

Baylor won the first set 28-26, fell in the second 25-22, took the third 25-20, but fell in the fourth 25-23 and then the fifth 15-10.

Three Baylor student-athletes had double-doubles: Yossiana Pressley (22 kills, 12 digs), Hannah Sedwick (60 assists, 14 digs) and Avery Skinner (19 kills, 19 digs). Lauren Harrison had double-digit kills as well with 13 total, while Shanel Bramschreiber had double-digit kills with 16.

Pressley finishes her Baylor career as the all-time career kills (2,395) and attempts (5,828) leader. Sedwick caps off her final season with 4,805 assists to be fourth all-time on the career assists list at BU.

Skinner finishes her career with a total of 1,176 kills, 355 of which came while wearing the green and gold.

This Baylor team will go down as one of the winningest and most unique classes with the group of fifth-year seniors and with 91 wins over four years and 115 over five. They made a National Semifinal and won a Big 12 Championship in their time.

BEAR BITES

Avery Skinner finished the season with 10 double-doubles after only recording two at Kentucky.
Hannah Sedwick and Yossiana Pressley each had their seventh double-double of the season as well.
Baylor is now 10-6 under McGuyre in NCAA Tournaments and 13-10 overall.
This was the Bears' third-straight Regional Semifinal appearance, fourth overall.
BU made its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and won 20 or more matches in each of the last six seasons.

To stay up to date throughout the season on all things Baylor volleyball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @BaylorVball.

-BaylorBears.com-