VB Opens Big 12 Play at No. 8 Texas

Volleyball 9/17/2010 12:00:00 AM

Sept. 17, 2010

Baylor (7-4, 0-0) at No. 8 Texas (5-4, 0-1)
Sept. 18 | Austin, Texas | Gregory Gymnasium (4,000)

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Game Notes

Baylor Game Notes

MEDIA INFORMATION
Game Center: Match 12
Date: Sept. 18, 2010
Location: Austin, Texas
Arena: Gregory Gymnasium (4,000)
Internet Audio: www.BaylorBears.com
Talent: Larry Little (pxp), Todd Zeidler (color)
Internet Video: www.texassports.com
Live Stats:

THE TOP FIVE

- Baylor enters its Big 12 opener riding high after a tournament title and an undefeated weekend at the Courtyard by Marriott/UCF €ˆClassic in Orlando. The Bears took down Jacksonville in three sets and UCF €ˆand Florida Atlantic each in four sets. Baylor's record improved to 7-4 on the season and 66-17 in non-conference mathes under head coach Jim Barnes.

- Baylor is ranked in the top five in the Big 12 in every major statistical category, while leading the league in digs with 816 (only team with more than 700) and digs per set with 18.55 (3.06 more than all Big 12 teams). Individually, libero Caitlyn Trice has recorded 61 more digs than anyone in the Big 12 with 257, while having a league-leading 5.84 digs per set.

- Baylor took home the biggest honors at the Courtyard by Marriott/UCF €ˆClassic. Along with the tournament title and a 3-0 record, sophomore middle blocker Torri Campbell was named the Most Valuable Player with 40 kills and a .431 hitting percentage. Ashlie Christenson (40 kills, .398 pct.) and Caitlyn Trice (50 digs, 4.55 dps) each earned all-tournament honors.

- Libero Caitlyn Trice has been a force in the back row for Baylor, tying the four-set match record for digs twice this season. The senior is the full-time libero for the first time in her career and has recorded double-digit digs in all 11 matches, over 20 digs in seven and over 30 digs in four. She had 32 in five sets against UNI and TCU, and 31 in four sets against SMU and Dayton.

- Baylor is 3-3 in Big 12 openers in the Barnes era, with wins over Texas Tech (2) and Kansas State, along with losses to Texas (2) and Iowa State.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

NO. 8 TEXAS (5-4, 0-1 Big 12)
The Longhorns entered the week ranked eighth in the latest €ˆAVCA €ˆTop 25 poll, but were swept on Thursday night by unranked Texas A&M in College Station. So far in 2010, Texas has played one of the toughest schedules in the nation, with losses to No. 5 Illinois, No. 2 Stanford and No. 4 Florida. The Longhorns have wins over No. 23 Long Beach State and TCU to their credit.

Entering the season, Texas hit the floor without two of the best players in the country las in All-Americans Destinee Hooker and Ashley Engle. Hooker and Engle helped lead the Longhorns to the Big 12 regular season title as well as a berth in the national championship match. Despite those losses, the Longhorns return All-American Julianne Faucette, who was voted the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year by the league's coaches. Along with Faucette, UT €ˆalso returns preseason all-Big 12 selection Rachael Adams at middle blocker.

Faucette leads the Longhorns in kills with 84 and kills per set at 3.00, while ranking second on the team in digs with 59. Adams has compiled a .394 hitting percentage with 59 kills. Freshman Hannah Allison serves as the Longhorn setter, averaging 9.11 assists per set.

On defense, Adams leads the way in the blocking department with 1.07 per set, while libero Sydney Yogi leads the squad with a digs-per-set average of 2.95.

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