No. 19 Baylor VB Defeats Arizona to Start Conference Play

[Allen, Madelon]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Sept.25, 2024

No. 19 Baylor VB Defeats Arizona to Start Conference Play
Bears hand Arizona its first loss of the season

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

WACO, Texas – The 19th-ranked Baylor volleyball team opened up Big 12 play at the Ferrell Center with a 3-1 win against a formerly undefeated Arizona.

The Bears (9-3) secured the win in four sets over the Wildcats (11-1). Winning the first set 25-18, followed by a 25-23 second set win, dropping the third set 25-16 but bringing a win home with a 25-17 fourth set win.

THE RUNDOWN
Set 1
The Bears started the match with a challenge, getting the first point back when the call was reversed. Baylor got to a 4-1 lead with a kill by Elise McGhee. BU and Arizona traded kills resulting in a 7-4 lead for the Bears. Two aces from Kendal Murphy brought the Bears up 10-5. Barrett Frazier and Manuela Bibinbe extended the Bears lead to 13-6. A kill by the Wildcats mixed with an error from the Bears brought the score to 13-8. With two kills from Allie Sczech and two from Andrew, as well as two Arizona errors, the Bears came up to a 17-10 lead. The Wildcats gained three points only to be stifled from two kills from Baylor. The Bears continued to dominate with an Arizona error bringing the score to 24-18, BU. McGhee won the set for the Bears with a kill closing the first set at 25-18.

Set 2
After a dominant first set, the Bears fought back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the set at 2-2, forcing two errors out of the Wildcats. Arizona goes up two points with a kill and ace but the Bears tied it up once again with two kills from Sczech. The Bears and Wildcats traded off points with three consecutive for Arizona including a UA ace and a kill, but Baylor battled back with two kills from Andrew and Sczech. An Arizona error helped tie the score at 8-8. The Bears went on a tear with kills from Barrett Frazier, Murphy and an error from Arizona, putting the score at 11-9. Arizona tied the game at 13-all after a long rally. After a successful challenge and an ace from Barrett Frazier, Baylor went up by one, 15-14. Two kills from Arizona and an error brought the score to 16-all. Sczech set the tone with a huge kill, giving the Bears an 18-17 edge. A pivotal kill by Murphy from mid-court brought the Bears to a 20-20 tie. Arizona gained a one point lead after a kill, but the Bears battled back with a kill by McGhee, making the score 22-22. After a kill from Sczech, the Bears were up 23-22, forcing an Arizona timeout. The Wildcats came out of the timeout with a kill, tying the score once more, but the Bears made it set point with a kill from Sczech. BU won the set after forcing an Arizona error, finishing out 25-23.

Set 3
Baylor entered the third set after a close second set battle with the Wildcats. The Bears started strong with a kill from Andrew but the Wildcats got a kill of their own to tie up the game 1-1. The score came to 2-2 after both teams traded errors. Arizona took a fast lead with an ace, kill and Baylor error forcing the Bears to take a timeout at 5-2. Baylor had multiple kills from McGhee and Andrew which gave them a 7-6 lead. Two kills in a row from Sczech and a kill from Arizona brought the game to an 8-8 tie. After two UA kills and errors the match was tied at 11. The Wildcats accumulated three more points, and after a Baylor timeout, Arizona extended their lead to 18-11 with three Baylor errors and an ace. The Bears struggled offensively allowing two more Wildcat points but started gaining momentum after a service error on Arizona and a massive kill from McGhee. After a long rally, Arizona forced a kill bringing the score to 22-14. Andrew got a kill for Baylor but Arizona countered with a kill of their own to gain match point 24-15. Despite another kill from Andrew, the Wildcats took the set from a Baylor service error with a score of 25-16.

Set 4
After a difficult third set the Bears started the fourth with an error and then a kill. After coach McGuyre’s third successful challenge of the night, the Bears achieved a 4-2 lead. Baylor went up 6-2 after Sczech and McGhee both collected kills, topped off by an ace from Barrett Frazier. Sczech achieved a dominant kill which gave the Bears a 5-8 lead. After an Arizona error and a Lauren Briseno Ace Arizona was forced to take a timeout with a 10-5 Baylor lead. Baylor gained another point after a long rally coming out from the timeout. The Wildcats took two points with back-to-back kills but were quickly stifled by Bibinbe’s kill which brought the Bears to a 12-7 lead. Both teams traded off kills bringing the score to 13-8. Arizona gained two points from Baylor errors which forced a timeout from the Bears. Bibinbe came out of the timeout with a kill which gave the Bears a four-point lead. Arizona won a challenge which brought the score to 15-12. Baylor went on a scoring spree with kills from Bibinbe, McGhee and Andrew combined with an Arizona error for a score of 19-13. The Bears quick lead caused Arizona to call a timeout. Both teams came out of the timeout with aggressive kills which brought the score to 20-14. Baylor was aggressive at the net getting a kill from Andrew. Arizona scored after the longest rally of the night with a 21-16 score. Baylor got their 22nd point of the set with a massive kill from Murphy. Two more kills from Bibinbe and Barrett Frazier brought the set to match point where Barrett Frazier forced an Arizona error. Baylor won the fourth set with a score of 25-17.

HIGHLIGHTS

  *   Bears ended Arizona’s undefeated season.
  *   The match opened Big 12 play for both teams.
  *   Kendal Murphy had her third match with back-to-back aces.
  *   Alicia Andrew: Led the team in kills with 14.
  *   Elise McGhee: Recorded 850 career kill with 11 kills

UP NEXT
Baylor returns to Ferrell on Friday as it faces No. 14 Arizona State at 7 p.m.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets for home matches can visit BaylorBears.com/Tickets. All seats are general admission for volleyball at 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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