Aug. 29, 2008
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Juniors Katie Sanders and Anna Breyfogle recorded double-doubles as the Baylor volleyball team swept SMU 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-16) on Friday night in the season opener for both teams. Baylor has now won its season-opening match in each of the last four seasons.
Breyfogle, a preseason All-Big 12 selection, recorded 11 kills on .348 hitting and added a career-high 16 digs. Breyfogle, seeing her first action at right-side hitter after starting at middle blocker during her first two seasons, also added four total blocks. Her previous career best of 10 digs came last season against Texas A&M.
"Anna had a great spring season playing back row, so we gave her the opportunity to do that during the season," said head coach Jim Barnes. "She was able to pass and dig all over the place."
Sanders tallied a team-high 14 kills on .333 hitting, and added 13 digs. Sanders, who led the team with 478 kills in 2007, recorded the 21st double-double of her career. As a sophomore, she started the season with double-doubles in five-straight matches.
Junior setter Taylor Barnes led Baylor (1-0) to a .294 team hitting percentage, and five players recorded a hitting percentage above .333. Ashlie Christenson hit .375 on eight kills, while Ashley Byrd had five kills and a .364 hitting percentage.
"This was an outstanding team effort," said Barnes. "We hit .222 in the first set and we told the team that we wanted to play better. Our offense picked up and I thought Taylor had a great match."
Freshmen Allison King and Jordan Rice recorded double-digit digs with 13 and 11, respectively. The Bears tallied 70 digs overall to just 57 digs for SMU.
Briana Tolbert led the net defense with five of Baylor's seven total blocks.
"Our defense was great," said Barnes. "We dug more than 20 balls per game, which with the new 25-point sets is a huge number. We wanted to touch every ball that they hit and I think we were able to do that. Jordan Rice was all over the floor. She has outstanding instincts."
Dana Powell led SMU (0-1) with seven kills, but the Mustangs managed to hit just .043 for the match.
Baylor returns to action on Saturday with matches against Prairie View A&M at 10:30 a.m. and Lamar at 7:30 p.m.
