Volleyball Squares Off with No. 2 Texas

Volleyball 10/7/2015 12:00:00 AM

Oct. 7, 2015

vs.

WACO, Texas - The Baylor volleyball team (12-4, 1-2 Big 12) is gearing up for a match up with the 2nd-ranked Texas Longhorns (13-1, 3-0 Big 12) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Ferrell Center.

The Bears look to bounce back after a tough loss on the road against Oklahoma on Saturday, but will have a tough test against the Longhorns.

Texas leads the series by a wide margin, taking 75 wins to Baylor's two, with both of those victories coming at home in Waco. A five-set, extended set thriller, BU's last win over the Longhorns was on October 27, 2001.

Under head coach Ryan McGuyre, the Bears garnered the program's highest RPI ranking since December of 2009, opening the NCAA's list at No. 32.

Aided by a strong nonconference schedule against quality opponents, BU continues through the Big 12 season hoping to keep its ranking high with an eye on postseason play.

Wednesday's match will be Baylor's Dig Pink match, honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month with participation from both teams during the match.

The match will be nationally televised by ESPNU, WatchESPN.com, and the WatchESPN app. Fans can watch and listen to Baylor's Internet broadcast on BaylorBears.com/AllAccess. Keep up with the team all season long by following Baylor Volleyball on the team's official Twitter page, @BaylorVball.

MATCH INFO:
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, 6 p.m.
Waco, Texas
Ferrell Center (6,000)
TV: ESPNU and WatchESPN
BU Audio: BaylorBears.com/AllAccess
BU Video: BaylorBears.com/AllAccess
Live Stats: BaylorBears.com

BAYLOR BEARS
2015 Record: 12-4
2015 Big 12 Record: 1-2
Head Coach: Ryan McGuyre (1st season)
All-Time Record vs. TEXAS: 2-75 (last meeting, four-set loss in Waco, 11/19/14)
All-Time Record vs. TEXAS in Waco: 2-36 (last meeting, four-set loss, 11/19/14)

TEXAS LONGHORNS
2015 Record: 13-1
2015 Big 12 Record: 3-0
Head Coach: Jerritt Elliot (15th season)

Baylor Volleyball Game Preview
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation

Ryan McGuyre has talked to his Baylor volleyball team about dreaming big. What would be bigger than the Bears (12-4, 1-2) taking down a second-ranked Texas team (13-1, 3-0) that has won seven of the last eight Big 12 championships?

Baylor hosts Texas at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Ferrell Center in a match that will be nationally televised by ESPNU.

"We want to have great pleasure when there's pressure," McGuyre said. "We hope with Texas coming here and a televised match, it adds to the pressure. That's something we're working on, just making sure we're really learning how to battle and get after it and have fun in the midst of all those situations.

"I've asked the girls to dream big and then have dreams that scare them a little bit. Texas, on paper, can be a very scary team. But we're excited about the opportunity to play, definitely host them and showcase what we can do at home."

The Longhorns haven't dropped a set in three Big 12 matches and have won nine matches in a row overall since a 3-1 loss to fifth-ranked Florida. Texas has also dominated the series against Baylor, winning 26 matches in a row and holding a 75-2 edge overall.

"I don't look at it like that. I'm undefeated against Texas, I've never lost to them at home," McGuyre said. "As much as you can learn from the past - and you can learn from it - you can't dwell on it. The point of power is in the present, and we're going to battle tomorrow."

Senior outside hitter Amy Neal leads the Big 12 in kills per set (4.09) and aces (22), while 6-2 middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu tops the Longhorns with a .409 hitting percentage and 1.21 blocks per set.

Coming off a 3-1 loss at Oklahoma, the Bears are playing without freshmen Jordan Vail and Amanda Lesikar, who are both out with injuries.

"It's caused a lot of players to have to step up and play in roles that maybe they haven't been comfortable in," said senior outside hitter Andie Malloy, who has a team-high 14 aces and is averaging 2.67 kills and 2.7 digs per set. "But like Coach says, there's only one way to play. And no matter what six are out there, you're going to work your hardest and we're all going to be there to support each other."

With the injuries, McGuyre said freshman Shelly Fanning and senior Adrien Richburg both have to step up and take even bigger roles for the Bears.

"Texas is real physical in the middle, so we've really got to fight and battle in there," McGuyre said. "Adrien will need to enjoy playing and being the beast she can be."

Katie Staiger (2.85) and Fanning (2.81) lead the Bears in kills per set, while setters Amy Rosenbaum and Morgan Reed are averaging 5.77 and 5.10 assists, respectively, and have combined for 22 service aces.

In a rare three-match home stand, Baylor will host Texas State (10-8) in a nonconference match at 7 p.m. Friday and 10th-ranked Kansas (10-0, 3-0) at 7 p.m. next Wednesday, Oct. 14.

"One of our dreams is to be undefeated at home," Fanning said of Baylor's 7-0 home record. "And that's still within our reach. It would be really cool to come out with a win (Wednesday) against Texas."

-BU-

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