Oct. 8, 2003

Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas - Baylor started with a gutsy performance in game one, but couldn't maintain the momentum as the Bears fell short and dropped a tough 3-1 (33-35, 33-31, 30-26, 30-24) decision to Texas in Big 12 action Wednesday night at Gregory Gymnasium. Senior outside hitter Tisha Schwartz hit .235 with a match-high 23 kills and added 11 digs for her eighth double-double of the season to lead the Bears.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Spriggs added 14 kills, freshman outside hitter Andrea Vakulya had 13 and freshman middle blocker Desiree Guilliard-Young had 12 and added four blocks. Sophomore setter Emily Huston had a banner night, tying her career-high with 56 assists and adding a career-high eight kills and eight digs. Senior libero Stevie Nicholas led the Bears (10-9, 2-4 Big 12) defensively with 14 digs.

Bethany Howden and Mira Topic had 19 kills each and both recorded double-doubles to lead the Longhorns (9-6, 4-2), while Brandy Magee and Kathy Hahn had 14 kills each. Erin Larson had a match-high 17 digs, and Whitney Garvins chipped in 13. Texas was red-hot, hitting .323 as a team.

The Bears got off to a quick start in game one and forced the Longhorns to take a timeout with the score, 9-4. Later, Baylor scored three-straight points to take a 25-20 lead, but Texas fought back to score six-straight points and take its first lead since 2-1. The Longhorns had match point at 29-28, but the Bears would not go away as they fought off four game points and took the opening frame, 35-33. Baylor was outhit by Texas as the Bears hit .298 compared to the Longhorns' .316. Schwartz led Baylor with seven kills in the game, while Guilliard-Young added five.

Texas came out hot in game two, scoring six-straight points to take a 9-4 lead, but Baylor rebounded with a four-point rally of its own to cut the lead to 11-10. The two teams traded point-for-point the rest of the way as neither team took more than a two-point lead after the Bears were up 20-18. The Bears had match point at 31-30, but the Longhorns scored the final three points to even the match, 33-31. Texas hit .432 for the game, while Baylor hit .261. Schwartz and Vakulya had six kills each to lead the Bears' attack.

The Longhorns jumped out to an 11-5 lead in game three, but the Bears rallied for five-straight points to cut the deficit to 11-10. The two teams once again matched points, before Texas gained control by scoring four straight to take a 23-20 lead and went on to take the advantage, 30-26.

Game four was close until Texas scored four straight to go up, 14-10, and five straight to take a 20-12 lead. The Bears cut the lead to 23-21, but could get no closer as the Longhorns closed out the match, 30-24.

Baylor returns home in Big 12 Conference play as it hosts Colorado Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.