Nov. 24, 2006
Volleyball Preview: Baylor vs. #13 Oklahoma
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BAYLOR (18-14, 6-13 Big 12) vs. #13 Oklahoma (25-5, 16-3 Big 12)
Saturday, Nov. 25 - 7 p.m.
Ferrell Center - Waco, Texas
Live Video Broadcast and Gametracker: BaylorBears.com
Baylor volleyball hosts No. 13 Oklahoma in the season finale Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center. It will also be Senior Night, when the Bears will honor Desiree Guilliard-Young, Nicole LeBlanc, Adeline Meira and Deja Sweeney.
The Bears are led by LeBlanc, who is averaging 3.25 kills and 2.96 digs per game. Guilliard-Young leads the Big 12 with 1.59 blocks per game and ranks fifth with a .353 hitting percentage while averaging 2.95 kills per game. Freshman setter Taylor Barnes leads the conference with 0.53 service aces per game and averages 11.40 assists, 1.32 kills, 2.09 digs and 0.70 blocks per game. Junior libero Kristen Schramek leads Baylor defensively, ranking sixth in the league with 4.02 digs per game.
In their last match, the Bears dropped a five-game decision on the road to Colorado. Guilliard-Young tied her career highs with 20 kills and 12 blocks, while freshman outside hitter Katie Sanders added 15 kills. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Kelsey Smith posted her first career double-double with 13 kills and a career-high 14 digs, while Schramek led the Bears with 15 digs.
Oklahoma has won eight of its last nine and is led by Joanna Schmitt, who ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 4.28 kills per game, and also averages 3.04 digs per game. Eliane Santos averages 3.07 kills per game and ranks third in the conference with 1.54 blocks per game. Bridget Laplante averages 3.06 kills per game, and Laura Tomes averages 2.93 kills per game and ranks fourth in the league with a .366 hitting percentage. Anna Monsen ranks third in the conference with 4.72 digs per game.
The Sooners edged Iowa State in five games Wednesday night in Norman. Schmitt led Oklahoma with 19 kills and 14 digs, while Sarah Weiland added 15 kills. Santos had 13 kills, Laplante had 11 and 13 digs, while Monsen had 16 digs.
For the Bears, Guilliard-Young needs six more blocks to become the first player in Baylor history with 1,000 kills and 600 blocks and nine more blocks to equal the single-season school record. Barnes needs two more aces to equal the single-season school record, and LeBlanc need three more kills to become the sixth player in school history with 1,400 for her career.
The NCAA Selection Show airs on ESPNews at 2 p.m. Sunday.
