Sept. 1, 2001
Stats
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Stevie Nicholas pounded 27 kills and was one of five Baylor players with at least 10 kills as the Bears defeated host Tulane 30-18, 22-30, 30-24, 30-23 to claim the 2001 NOKIA Sugar Bowl Classic title.
With the victory, the Bears improve to 3-0 on the young season, while Tulane falls to 1-3. Baylor was the only team to go through the tournament undefeated.
Stevie Nicholas led a group of four Bears named to the all-tournament team, winning MVP honors. Dana Chuha, Tatiana Kenon and Tisha Schwartz joined Ann MacMillan of New Orleans, Jennifer Hampton of Louisiana State and Britney Hurst of Tulane on the all-tournament squad.
Baylor came out on fire against the Green Wave, hitting at a .563 clip (19-1-32) in the first game. The Bears only attacking error was a back-row attack call on an attempted set by Chuha. Stevie Nicholas was the driving force of that offensive onslaught, pounding 10 kills in 13 swings without an error for a .769 attacking percentage. In fact, she did not commit her first error until after she had put down 15 kills in 21 attempts.
However, a feisty Tulane squad picked up the intensity in the second game. After the Wave opened up a 25-19 lead, the Bears scored three consecutive points to pull within three. Baylor would get no closer, though, as Tulane came out of a timeout to score the next five points.
Baylor's offense never returned to its first-game perfection, but the Bears matched Tulane's intensity in games three and four to gain the victory.
Laura Daniela Lloreda and Sunny Nicholas pounded 12 kills each, hitting .300 and .379, respectively. Schwartz added 10 kills with three blocks, while Kenon also chipped in 10 kills with 12 digs and three blocks.
Kenon, whose younger sister Anastatia is a freshman for Tulane, was one of six Bears to reach the 10-dig plateau. Kimmy Scott and Chuha led the Bears with 16 each, Sunny Nicholas had 13 and Lloreda added 10. Chuha was one shy of her career best and also had a match-high 60 assists, her school-record 18th match with at least 60 assists.
Baylor finished the match with a .283 team attacking percentage. Meanwhile, Tulane was held to a .153 clip, and only one Green Wave player hit higher than .300. Hurst provided nearly all the offense for Tulane, claiming 25 of her team's 46 kills.
The Bears out-killed the Wave 75-46 and out-dug the Wave 79-68.
Baylor will return to action Tuesday, hosting Texas-Arlington at 7 p.m. in the Ferrell Center.
