VB Opens Season at Purdue Premier
8/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 25, 2011
   |
| MORTAR BOARD PREMIER Baylor (0-0) | Purdue (0-0) | College of Charleston (0-0) | VCU (0-0) Aug. 26-27 | West Lafayette, Ind. | Holloway Gymnasium |
 Listen |  Gametracker |  Game Notes |
| TOURNAMENT CENTRAL |
GAME CENTER: SEASON OPENER
MEDIA INFORMATION
Date: Aug. 26-27, 2010
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Arena: Holloway Gymnasium
Internet Audio: www.BaylorBears.com
Internet Video: n/a
Talent: Todd Zeidler (pxp)
Live Stats: www.BaylorBears.com
WEEKEND MATCHUPS
No. 13 Purdue (24-11, 12-8 in 2010) - Aug. 26, 6 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: Baylor leads 1-0 (H: €ˆ1-0, A: 0-0, N: 0-0)
Last meeting: Baylor won 3-2, Sept. 9, 2005
Ranked 13th in the preseason poll, ninth-year head coach Dave Shondell returns five starters from a team that reached the NCAA €ˆRegional Final. The Boilermakers were picked fourth in the Big Ten and had three preseason all-Big Ten selections (SR MB Tiffany Fisher, JR €ˆOH €ˆAriel Turner, JR L €ˆCarly Cramer).
Coll. of Charleston (29-6, 15-1 in 2010) - Aug. 27, 11 a.m. CT
All-Time Series: CofC leads 1-0 (H: €ˆ0-0, A: 0-0, N: 0-1)
Last meeting: CofC won 3-0, Sept. 10, 2005
The Cougars lost just one Southern Conference match during regular season, but missed NCAA €ˆTournament with loss in SoCon Tournament title match. The Cougars were picked to finish second in the SoCon South Division and had two preseaseon all-SoCon selections (SR €ˆMB €ˆElyse Chubb and SR €ˆOH €ˆSarah Havel).
VCU (13-20, 9-5 in 2010) - Aug. 27, 4 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: Baylor leads 1-0 (H: €ˆ0-0, A: 0-0, N: 1-0)
Last meeting: Baylor won 3-1, Sept. 26, 1986
VCU, who finished third in the Colonial in 2010, was picked fourth with one first-place vote in the preseason poll in 2011. The Rams return four starters , but will have to replace two all-CAA €ˆperformers from 2010. VCU €ˆhad just one preseason all-CAA €ˆhonorable mention selection (SO €ˆS Ciara Brown).
STORYLINES
- Baylor turned in its third consecutive winning season in 2010 with a record of 16-15 overall, along with a third-straight nine-win Big 12 record of 9-11.
- Baylor ranked first in the Big 12 and third in the NCAA €ˆwith 18.91 digs-per-set. The mark was tops in the nation on three occasions and ranks as the second-best ever at Baylor.
- The Bears will have to replace departed all-conference senior Elizabeth Graham, who led the Bears in hitting percentage, kills, kills-per-set, points, points-per-set, blocks and blocks-per-set.
- With school-record digs-per-set holder Allison King playing outside hitter in 2010, now departed senior Caitlyn Trice reset the Baylor record at 5.28 dps. King will play libero in 2011.
- Junior Torri Campbell is the leading returner on offense and at the net on defense. As a sophomore, she ranked second on the team in hitting percentage, kills and blocks.
- In 2010, the win-loss record directly reflected the Baylor attacking percentage. The Bears were 11-1 when hitting over .250 and 16-1 when out-hitting opponents.
- Despite losing seven letterwinners to graduation, Baylor reloaded with five incoming freshman, a junior college transfer and a former Baylor women's basketball player.
- After supplanting itself in the AVCA €ˆrankings much of the 2009 season, the Bears earned votes in just three weeks of the 2010 rankings without cracking the top 25.
