Aug. 29, 2009
Box Score
HOUSTON - Senior Katie Sanders led the Baylor offense to a 3-0 sweep (25-20, 26-24, 25-21) over the University of New Orleans to complete a three-win weekend at the Flo Hyman Invitational at the University of Houston.
The Bears grinded through three tough sets against a gritty New Orleans team, but some quick offense and timely blocking helped Baylor to the sweep. Each set New Orleans kept it close before the Bears were able to close it out. The match featured 24 separate occasions with a tie score and nine lead changes.
"As a team we served much better today," head coach Jim Barnes said. "Taylor and Anna especially gave us some good serves. There is no doubt that we outserved and outpassed them. That was the difference in the match."
Along with Sanders 12 kills, Ashlie Christenson chipped in 11 and Anna Breyfogle recorded nine. The Bears totaled 59 digs and six total blocks on the defense side. Sanders completed the double-double with 13 digs, while Caitlyn Trice and Taylor Barnes each had 12. Breyfogle led the Bear blockers with four blocks.
Barnes quarterbacked the offense for BU with another solid game of 35 assists and zero ball-handling errors.
In the first set the Bears, held a two or three-point cushion most of the way with solid play on the attack. The Bears combined to hit .317 in the first set with 17 kills and just three errors. Sanders and Breyfogle each tallied five kills in the set to lead the offense. BU jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the set and held on for the set-win with good defense and a variety of attacks.
The second set had eight ties, but only one lead change as the Bears held on for a 26-24 win. BU fell behind by three points, 17-14, but after a timeout, the Bears reeled off four straight points on the strength of kills from Christenson and Elizabeth Graham.
The third set was back and forth with neither team taking a two-point lead until the Bears at 16-14. Ashley Byrd came alive at that point and supplanted the Bears offense with three kills and a game-ending block to close out the Privateers.
"Where they gave us fits was in their floor defense," Barnes said. "They got to so many balls, and were really able to keep points going."
The Bears will be back in action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with a match at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.
