Oct. 20, 2006
Volleyball Preview: Baylor vs. Iowa State
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BAYLOR (13-9, 2-8 Big 12) vs. Iowa State (13-7, 5-5 Big 12)
Saturday, Oct. 21 - 7 p.m.
Ferrell Center - Waco, Texas
Live Audio Broadcast and Live Stats: BaylorBears.com
Baylor volleyball begins the second half of Big 12 Conference play looking to end a seven-match losing streak as it hosts Iowa State on homecoming Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center. After losing to the Cyclones on the road in September, the Bears will be looking to even the season series with a home win of their own. The live audio broadcast of the match will be available on BaylorBears.com at 6:45 p.m. The match follows Saturday's football game against Kansas at 2:05 p.m.
The Bears are led by senior outside hitter Nicole LeBlanc, who averages 3.51 kills and 3.15 digs per game. Senior middle blocker Desiree Guilliard-Young averages 3.00 kills per game, ranks sixth in the Big 12 with a .358 hitting percentages and ranks second with 1.53 blocks per game. Freshman setter Taylor Barnes averages 11.19 assists, 1.29 kills, 2.23 digs, 0.62 blocks and ranks second in the league with 0.56 aces per game. Junior libero Kristen Schramek ranks fifth in the conference with 4.05 digs per game.
In its last match, Baylor overcame a slow start to take a two games to one lead, but couldn't close out Colorado in games four and five as the Buffaloes escaped with a 3-2 victory Wednesday night at the Ferrell Center. Guilliard-Young led five players with double figure kills, registering a career-high 20 to go along with nine blocks. LeBlanc posted her 13th double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs, while freshmen Anna Breyfogle and Katie Sanders also added 12 kills each. Barnes had 11 kills, 57 assists, eight digs, five blocks and three aces. Schramek led the Bears with 14 digs.
Iowa State is led by Katie Jessen, who ranks ninth in the conference with 3.78 kills per game and Erin Boeve, who averages 3.30 kills per game and leads the Big 12 with 1.70 blocks per game. Katie Churm ranks seventh in the league with 3.86 digs per game, while Kaylee Manns averages 3.37 per game.
In their last match, the Cyclones cruised past Texas A&M 3-1 Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Jessen led Iowa Stae with 22 kills and 17 digs, while Nicole Lorenzen had 17 kills and 17 digs. Cummings had 15 kills, while Boeve added 12 kills and seven blocks.
Saturday's match marks the 24th meeting between Baylor and Iowa State, with the Bears leading the all-time series, 17-6. The Cyclones won this year's previous meeting with a sweep Sept. 16 in Ames, Iowa. Baylor leads the series in Waco, 7-4.
Baylor has Wednesday off and will return to action when it hosts Missouri Friday at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.
