June 16, 2014
2014 Schedule
WACO, Texas - Baylor head volleyball coach Jim Barnes announced the Bears' 2014 schedule Monday. Baylor posted a 12-20 record in 2013 with a 4-12 record in Big 12 play but will look to bounce back in 2014 with a return to the NCAA Playoffs for the first time since 2011.
The Bears' schedule features 10 matches against teams that finished in the top 40 RPI in 2013. Those matches include two non-conference contests with Wichita State in San Marcos, Texas Sept. 4 and LSU at the UTSA Tournament Sept. 19.
Baylor's Big 12 schedule has been shuffled after keeping virtually the same order the past two years. The Bears open league play on the road Sept. 27 at Kansas State before the Big 12 home opener Oct. 1 vs. Texas Tech.
Baylor finished eighth in the nine-team league in 2013 and will play a home-and-home with each of the other eight teams in 2014. Texas, Iowa State, Oklahoma and Kansas all finished in the top 40 of the 2013 RPI and all advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Bears return 11 letterwinners and four players that started at least 22 matches a year ago in Laura Jones, Nicole Bardaji, Adrien Richburg and Amy Rosenbaum. Baylor will get back both Kaite Staiger and Thea Munch-Soegaard in 2014 after the pair's seasons ended with injury in 2013. In addition, Baylor's Andie Malloy will suit up for the first time in 2014 after sitting out 2013 due to Big 12 transfer rules with Malloy's move from Iowa State following her freshman year in 2012.
Bardaji, Jordan Teel, Hope Ogden and Tori Cox make up the senior class in 2014 and Barnes said that the team is ready for the rigors of the 2014 season.
"We are looking forward to playing this great schedule for the 2014 season. After a very successful spring offseason, we believe our team is prepared to have a very big year," Barnes said. "The non-conference section of the schedule will be very challenging and will prepare our team to take on another highly ranked Big 12 schedule."
Baylor will play host to the Green/Gold scrimmage Aug. 26 to give fans a sneak peak of the upcoming year as the players will scrimmage each other in a game-type atmosphere at the Ferrell Center at 6 p.m.
The regular season opener for Baylor is also at home Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. vs. Abilene Christian, and the Bears will also take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the University of Portland Aug. 30 as a part of the annual Baylor Invitational.
The Bears are expected to have matches on television in 2014, and that schedule will be released at a later date. However, all games are expected to be broadcast with audio / video on BaylorBears.com for home matches along with audio broadcasts on the road.
