Nov. 22, 2016 Baylor-Iowa State Match Notes 
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation
Ryan McGuyre knows all too well that he can't control what happens when the NCAA Tournament selection committee meets this Sunday.
But, the Baylor volleyball team (21-9, 9-5) can certainly add to an already impressive resume with wins this week in home matches against Iowa State (16-10, 8-6) at 6 p.m. Wednesday and fourth-ranked Kansas (25-2, 14-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
"It's not anything I can control, so I don't worry about what I can't control," McGuyre said. "It's up to the committee to do the right thing. And if they're going to put more than two teams in from our conference, then they need to look at us before anyone else."
That's because the Bears sit in third place right now, one spot ahead of Iowa State, and can clinch third outright by completing a season sweep against the Cyclones. Just over a month ago (Oct. 19), Baylor pulled out a five-setter for its first win in Ames in 11 years.
In the previous matchup, Katie Staiger had a match-high 27 kills and Baylor out-blocked the Cyclones, 14.0-9.0. But, Iowa State recorded its sixth straight win with an upset of No. 5 Texas on Nov. 12 before falling in five straights at No. 4 Kansas on Saturday.
"They're playing their best volleyball at the right time of the year," McGuyre said of Iowa State, "and that's what we want to be doing, too, is making sure we're playing our best volleyball at the right time of the year. They're really not much different than what we saw the first time we played them, but just playing cleaner, executing. . . . Volleyball is such a rhythmic sport. They went to the 6-2 system kind of by necessity, and now they're in a rhythm. They've found an offense that they're confident with and has been working pretty good for them."
Wednesday's match features two of the best defenses in the league. Baylor is second in the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage (.178) and digs per set (15.8) and fourth in blocks (2.47), while Iowa State is first in digs (16.7) and third in opponent hitting percentage (.186).
Staiger is the Big 12 leader and ranks fourth nationally with 5.55 kills per set, racking up 20 in Saturday's five-set thriller at Oklahoma. But, the junior outside hitter had 12 errors and had a .114 hitting percentage.
With Staiger off her game, other players like Freiberg, Aniah Philo, Morgan Reed, Ashley Fritcher and Daria Richards stepped it up. The Bears staved off three match points in winning the fourth set, 32-30, and then dominated the fifth set, 15-11.
"Really, a lot of the credit has to go to Morgan," McGuyre said of his senior setter, who had a double-double with 51 assists and 11 digs to go with six kills and a .750 hitting percentage. "When Katie is your go-to the whole time and she's struggling a little bit, I thought Morgan did a good job keeping Daria involved, Camyrn involved, Ashley involved, and really made some good dump (kills) on her own. That's how we win the fourth (set) is by her shooting the ball over."
Freiberg said the OU match gives the team confidence, "knowing that anyone in the front row is able to get the job done,"
"We kind of learned since the middle of the season that we do better as a team, we win more, when we spread out the offense more," she said. "We don't have to freak out when our star player is not playing her best."
The junior middle/outside hitter is cautiously optimistic about the Bears' NCAA Tournament chances when the selections are announced at 8 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU.
"God has made it apparent to us that he is sovereign over all," Freiberg said. "He's more sovereign than our games, he's more sovereign than the committee that chooses who gets into the NCAA Tournament. . . . Obviously, we want to get to that point. But, if it's God's will, it's going to happen, for sure. And we're confident that it's going to happen, that he wants our dreams to be fulfilled."
WACO, Texas - Baylor volleyball (21-9, 9-5) enters the final week of the regular season, facing the Iowa State Cyclones (16-10, 8-6) on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 6 p.m. in the Ferrell Center.
Baylor has posted a historic season in the program's history, with a chance to add to a growing list of firsts, including a season sweep over the Cyclones for the first time since 2004.
BU is chasing its 22nd win of the season, a first for the team since the 2009 squad.
The two sides met in Ames on Nov. 23 earlier this season, with Baylor clawing out a five set win.
ISU holds the edge in the all-time series, leading 23-20, including a 12-9 mark in Waco.
For this and all other Baylor home matches, fans can tune into the live internet video and radio broadcast on BaylorBears.com/allaccess.
Keep up with the team all season long by following Baylor Volleyball's official accounts on Twitter (@BaylorVball), Facebook (Baylor Volleyball), Instagram (@BaylorVolleyball), and Snapchat (@BaylorVball).
MATCH INFO:
Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2016 at 6 p.m. CT
Ferrell Center | Waco, Texas
Audio: BaylorBears.com (Paid)
Talent: Larry Little
Video: BaylorBears.com (Paid)
Live Stats: BaylorBears.com
BAYLOR BEARS
2015 Record: 17-13
2016 Record: 21-9
2016 Big 12 Record: 9-5
Head Coach: Ryan McGuyre (2nd season)
All-Time Record vs. ISU: 20-23
All-Time Record vs. ISU in WACO: 9-12
IOWA STATE CYCLONES
2015 Record: 19-11
2016 Record: 16-10
2016 Big 12 Record: 8-6
Head Coach: Christy Johnson-Lynch (12th season)
#SicEm
