Oct. 20, 2001

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Stevie Nicholas tied Baylor's single-match record with 36 kills and hit .405 on the night to lead the Bears past Kansas in a thrilling five-game match here Saturday night 34-32, 28-30, 35-33, 28-30, 15-10.

With the victory, Baylor improves to 12-6 on the season and 4-6 in Big 12 Conference play. Kansas falls to 12-9 and 2-8.

The triumph was a special one for Baylor head coach Brian Hosfeld, who became the winningest coach in the program's 24-year history. Hosfeld, now in his sixth season at Baylor and already the owner of the best winning percentage of any BU coach, has 102 wins, breaking the record of 101 coaching wins held by Tom Sonnichsen (1989-1995).

But Hosfeld and the Bears did not get the victory easily. For the third straight match, Baylor forced to go the distance, however, unlike last Saturday at Kansas State and Wednesday at home against Texas Tech, the Bears came out on the winning side. It marked Baylor's first win at Kansas since 1998.

Baylor blasted Kansas for a team attacking percentage of .609 in game five, putting away 14 kills without an error in just 23 swings. The Bears finished the match with a .252 attacking percentage, moving to 64-5 since the beginning of 1998 season when hitting .250 or better.

Stevie Nicholas led that game-five charge, tallying six errorless kills in nine swings. Her 36 kills on the night matches the total amassed by Elisha Polk in a five-game match against Kansas State during the 1998 campaign. Stevie Nicholas now has five-career matches with at least 30 kills, one shy of Polk's career mark.

Tatiana Kenon chipped in with 16 kills, while Tisha Schwartz and Sunny Nicholas contributed 12 kills and 10 kills, respectively. Laura Daniela Lloreda posted a match-high and career-best 22 digs, one of four Baylor players to reach double figures in that category. She was joined by Stevie Nicholas (16), Dana Chuha (14) and Kimmy Scott (13). Chuha also had 71 assists, her Big 12 record 12th-career match with at least 70 assists.

The five-point victory in game five put an end to an amazing streak for Baylor. Until that game, the Bears had played nine consecutive two-point games with six of those going past the normal winning score.

Baylor had a chance to win the match without going to a fifth game. The Bears led 28-26 in the fourth game before the Jayhawks scored four straight points to send the match to a deciding fifth frame. In the fifth game, the Bears broke out of a 2-2 tie with a pair of Stevie Nicholas kills and never trailed again. With Baylor leading 12-9, Kansas cut the lead to two points but could get no closer as the Bears posted three straight points to take the match.

Kansas spoiled outstanding performances by Sarah Rome and Danielle McHenry, who had 27 kills and 21 kills, respectively. Rome, though, committed 16 attacking errors and hit just .133 on the night. Kylie Thomas came off the bench for 17 kills and a .452 attacking percentage. McHenry led KU with 20 digs.

Baylor will return to action Monday, hosting Southwest Texas State for a 7 p.m. non-conference match at the Ferrell Center. The week's action will continue Wednesday as the Bears host at Iowa State at 7 p.m. Baylor will wrap up a stretch of five matches in a nine-day period with a 6 p.m. match at home Saturday against Texas and a 5 p.m. match the following day against Kansas.