No. 23 Baylor VB Took No. 18 TCU to the Line, Upset

Fri Oct 25 20:53:18 CDT 2024

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Oct. 25, 2024

No. 23 Baylor VB Took No. 18 TCU to the Line, Upset
Bears flummoxed Frogs in five

For more information, contact: Madelon Allen; 254-252-7168, madelon_allen at baylor.edu<mailto:madelon_allen at baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas – The 23rd-ranked Baylor volleyball team faced off with 18th-ranked TCU for the second time this season, coming away with the five-set win, 3-2.

The Bears (13-6, 5-3) came into the match with TCU (14-5, 6-3) on a four-match losing streak against the Frogs but snapped it with the five-set win. BU took the first 25-23, the Frogs had the second 25-22, then Baylor again in the third at 25-20 before TCU took the fourth 25-18. It was all Bears in the fifth set with a 15-8 finish.

Elise McGhee led the match for the Bears with a career-high 30 kills and six aces, while Jackie Barrett Frazier had 45 assists, Lauren Briseño tallied 24 digs and both Victoria Davis and Alicia Andrew had four blocks.

McGhee’s stat sheet was the first time in three years that a DI player had 30 kills and six aces in the same match, the last being UNLV’s Mariena Hayden on Oct. 21, 2021.

THE RUNDOWN
Set 1
The first set began with some back-and-forth action between the two bitter rivals. A pair of kills allowed TCU to climb out to a 6-4 lead, and it seemed as if a scoring run was on the way, but a kill by Kendal Murphy gave Baylor some life. The Bears clawed back behind a handful of kills by Elise McGhee, making the score 10-9 Frogs. The gap remained razor thin until a service ace by McGhee shifted the momentum in Baylor’s direction, 15-13 Bears. Both teams traded points for the rest of the way. McGhee’s spectacular play helped the Bears jump out to a 23-21 lead. Allie Sczech added a few digs to her stat sheet, and helped Baylor close out the set, winning 25-23.

Set 2
Set two began much like the first. Both teams struggled to build momentum until a TCU service error provided a boost for Baylor. Sczech made her presence felt with a violent swing for a kill, making the score 4-3 TCU. Manuela Bibinbe checked into the game and immediately gave the Bears a spark, tallying a kill and helping tie the score at 5-all. TCU was able to build up a scoring run, jumping out to a 9-5 lead before a timeout. Out of the break, Victoria Davis set the tone, recording an impressive kill to bring Baylor back to life. The Bears let the momentum build, and eventually brought it within 2, 10-8 Frogs. The Baylor run didn’t let up, and McGhee tied the set at 12 with an ace. TCU fought back, scoring five-straight to take a 17-12 lead. The Frogs continued to pull away, eventually leading 20-15. Baylor battled their way back into the set, and a block by Jackie Barrett Frazier brought the Bears within a point. Some masterful defense by Tehani Ulufatu brought the score to 21-20 TCU. Out of a prolonged break due to a challenge, Baylor tied the set at 21. Both teams went back-and-forth down the stretch, but TCU pulled away, winning the set 25-22.

Set 3
The third set began much like the first 2, with both teams struggling to gain an advantage. A kill by Sczech jump-started a Bear scoring run, as Baylor jumped out to a 9-5 advantage. McGhee’s big night continued, as she tallied up her 16th kill off of an assist from Barrett Frazier, 12-8 Bears. Andrew tallied an ace to extend Baylor’s lead to 15-9. TCU was able to cut into the lead a bit after a Baylor attack error, but the Bears kept their foot on the gas, climbing back out to a 20-13 lead. After TCU showed some fight, a Horned Frog service error brought Baylor closer to a set victory, 23-17 Bears. Baylor was able to put the set away 25-20, bringing them one set away from a win.

Set 4
With victory in sight, Baylor began the fourth set with some energy, but it was TCU who found a rhythm early. The Frogs jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, but neither team could pull away early on, and the score remained tight most of the early set. With the score at 11-10 TCU, McGhee tallied her 24th kill of the night to tie it up at 11. Both teams kept trading points, and no separation was to be found down the stretch. A pair of blocks by Barrett Frazier and Murphy forced TCU to call a timeout as Baylor lead 17-15. Out of the break, the Frogs came back with some momentum, taking an 18-17 lead, forcing Baylor to take a timeout of their own. TCU continued their hot streak out of the break and grew their lead to 21-17. The Bears got some life back after Murphy delivered a clutch kill for her 14th of the night. TCU didn’t flinch though and closed out the set 25-18.

Set 5
In a winner take all set 5, both teams battled through intense volleys early, with no team able to claim a clear advantage. Both teams exchanged leads early and struggled to pull away. TCU was able to jump out to an 8-6 lead before a media timeout. McGhee struck again with her 28th kill of the night, and a pair of aces from Barrett Frazier elevated Baylor to a 10-8 lead. Baylor caught fire and forced TCU to take a timeout as the grew the lead to 12-8 with yet another ace and a kill from Sczech. McGhee brought the Bears a point closer to victory, tallying two more kills. Baylor pulled off the win with a final block from Sczech and Andrew, ending the set on a nine-point run, 15-8.

HIGHLIGHTS

  *   Elise McGhee recorded the 60th service ace of her career, serving six on the night (a career high)
  *   McGhee had over 20 kills for the second time this season, and set a new career high with 30
  *   Kendal Murphy set a career high in kills with 16
  *   Baylor snaps a four-match losing streak to TCU

UP NEXT
The Bears are back-in-action at the Ferrell Center on Wednesday night, facing off with Iowa State at 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Fans interested in purchasing tickets can visit BaylorBears.com/Tickets<http://baylorbears.com/Tickets>. All seats are general admission for volleyball in the Ferrell Center with the student section behind the benches.

To stay up to date all year long on all things Baylor volleyball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram: @BaylorVBall.
- BaylorBears.com -

__________________________________

Madelon Allen | Associate Director of Athletics Communications
A&T, EQ, VB, BaylorBears.com
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-252-7168

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