Oct. 28, 2005
Baylor-Iowa State Volleyball Preview
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BAYLOR (13-10, 4-7 Big 12) at
Iowa State (13-10, 6-6 Big 12
Saturday, Oct. 29 - 7 p.m.
Hilton Coliseum - Ames, Iowa
Baylor returns to Big 12 Conference play in a key matchup on the road against Iowa State Saturday at 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.
The Bears have won four of their last five, climbing into a tie for seventh place in the conference, and bring a three-match winning streak into the contest. The Cyclones have lost their last two matches and are tied for fourth with Kansas State and Colorado. Last time out, Baylor played its final non-conference match of the season and easily took care of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on the road, 3-0 (30-18, 30-15, 30-24). Iowa State was swept by Colorado Wednesday night in Boulder, 3-0 (30-27, 30-21, 31-29).
Baylor is led by junior outside hitter Nicole LeBlanc, who is averaging 3.70 kills and 3.00 digs per game, and is only one of two players in the Big 12 to average at least three kills and three digs per game. The Bears are paced defensively by sophomore libero Kristen Schramek, who ranks seventh in the Big 12 with 3.83 digs per game, and junior middle blocker Desiree Guilliard-Young, who ranks second with 1.83 blocks per game in conference play only and was named Big 12 Player of the Week Monday.
Iowa State is led by Katie Jessen, who averages 3.35 kills per game, and Erin Boeve, who averages 3.04 kills per game and ranks second in the Big 12 with 1.70 blocks per game overall. The Cyclones are led defensively by Katie Churm, who leads the Big 12 with 4.38 digs per game.
Baylor leads the all-time series against Iowa State, 16-5, but lost this year's previous meeting, 3-1, Sept. 21 in Waco. Both Guilliard-Young (knee injury) and senior outside hitter Kelly Spriggs (grandfather's funeral) missed the match. The Bears have won 13 of the last 15 meetings and have won all nine meetings in Ames. Last year, Baylor swept the season series with a pair of 3-1 wins.
The Bears return to action when they host Texas A&M Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.
