No. 23 Baylor VB Falls in Five to No. 6 Wisconsin to Close Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge

Sat Sep 7 23:17:19 CDT 2024

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Sept. 7, 2024

No. 23 Baylor VB Falls in Five to No. 6 Wisconsin to Close Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge
Bears record first loss of season to top-10 team

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

WACO, Texas –Although players and fans alike showed up with insurmountable energy Saturday night in the Ferrell Center, the 23rd-ranked Baylor volleyball team ultimately fell short of the reverse sweep over No. 6 Wisconsin.

Following a noteworthy five-set upset over No. 18 Minnesota on Friday night, the Bears closed the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge with their first loss of the season, 3-2. Facing aggressive defense by the Badgers, Baylor lost the first two sets 25-18 and 25-14 before finding a jolt of energy to capture the third set 25-18. An impressive fourth set gave the Bears a 25-22 victory before the final frame escaped their grasp 16-14.

Elise McGhee led the Bears with 15 kills and five blocks, while newcomer Grace Carroll saw 10 kills.

THE RUNDOWN
Set 1
The first set proved to be a wild game of back-and-forth between the Bears and the Badgers before aggressive defense from Wisconsin drove Baylor to call a timeout at 11-6. The green and gold rallied for a 3-0 scoring run, seeing fearsome kills by Elise McGhee, Kendal Murphy and Allie Sczech to edge back 12-9. Despite strong performances by McGhee and Murphy as well as a domineering set of blocks by Manuela Bibinbe and Sczech, the Bears lost the set 25-18.

Set 2
Baylor scrambled to find their footing in the second set, beginning with a block by Tori Davis and Murphy’s fifth kill of the night. The Bears then mustered the energy to go on a 4-0 scoring run, followed with noteworthy kills by Sczech and Murphy as well as libero Lauren Briseño’s first ace on the season. After finding the lead 10-9 with a kill by McGhee, Wisconsin edged ahead once more, pushing Baylor to call a timeout and regroup their defense. The green and gold produced a valiant display of effort, including additional kills by Sczech and Jackie Barrett Frazier. Murphy staved off set point by getting a kill before the Bears fell 25-14.

Set 3
Rallying in the third set, the Bears opened with Alicia Andrew’s third and Sczech’s fourth kills of the night. They maintained their edge to grasp the lead 9-6, going on a 4-0 scoring run thanks to two kills by McGhee and a service ace by Barrett Frazier. A tense battle ensued, each team fighting aggressively at the net to maintain the lead. Baylor uncovered a touch of magic to embark on a 3-0 scoring run, pulling ahead 18-16 and pressuring Wisconsin into a timeout. The Badgers were greeted post-timeout with a service ace by McGhee and a set of powerful kills by Bibinbe and Andrew, leading to yet another Wisconsin timeout. The Bears stayed ahead to win the set 25-18 on a 5-0 scoring run that included an impressive third kill by newcomer Grace Carroll.

Set 4
The Bears fought hard to stay alive in the fourth set, maintaining a close back-and-forth battle thanks to four kills by McGhee and numerous service errors from Wisconsin. Following another kill by Carroll and two forceful blocks by Bibinbe, the Bears pulled ahead 16-13. The Bears’ rally continued as they extended their lead 18-14 before a back-to-back kill and service ace by McGhee forced Wisconsin to call their third timeout of the night. It wasn’t long before Carroll saw her sixth kill, propelling Baylor forward 21-18 and sending the Badgers into their fourth timeout. Baylor never looked back, winning the set 25-22 on an invincible block by McGhee.

Set 5
The Ferrell Center was rumbling with impressive energy as Baylor entered the fifth set. Dual kills by Carroll served as a forceful display of the Bears’ determination, providing the green and gold an early lead. Bibinbe staked her claim on the net, earning her fourth kill to put Baylor up 7-5. After two service errors and Carroll’s tenth kill put the Bears up 11-7, Wisconsin was forced into their fifth timeout of the evening. Following McGhee’s 14th kill of the night and a ready block by Andrew, Baylor called a timeout of their own, ready to claim the victory. Wisconsin, however, edged back 14-14 before calling another pause on the clock and delivering a service ace to drive Baylor into one last timeout. The Bears put up a noteworthy fight but ultimately fell to the Badgers 16-14.

HIGHLIGHTS

  *   Elise McGhee led the team for the second-straight match with 15 kills
  *   Freshman Grace Carroll recorded 10 kills, her first double-digit match
  *   Libero Lauren Briseño saw her first ace of the season
  *   Briseño and Jackie Barrett Frazier each had a double-double

UP NEXT
The Bears return to the Ferrell Center on Tuesday night, facing SMU at 7 p.m.

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.

To stay up to date all year long on all things Baylor volleyball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter 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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