VB Treks To Washington For Cougar Challenge
8/30/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation
Ryan McGuyre is hoping that last year's five-set victory over Washington State "triggers something" in this year's team as the Bears (2-1) face the Cougars (2-0) in a rematch at 10 p.m. CDT Thursday at the Cougar Challenge Tournament in Pullman, Wash.
"I think it was kind of a turning point in the season for us," McGuyre said. "That was the match where our identity really came out. That was the team I felt we got to coach and work with the rest of the season, which was a pretty awesome team. I hope maybe the remembrance of that triggers some things for this year's team, but we also want to be much better than we were last year. Facing them at their gym, they're not going to overlook us."
In the opening weekend, Baylor bounced back from a 3-1 loss to 15th-ranked Florida State with 3-0 sweeps of both Illinois State and UC Santa Barbara in the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational.
"We were extremely disappointed that we didn't get the first win, but we knew that we had a lot more to give and we finally got in our rhythm the last two games," said senior Camryn Freiberg, who averaged 2.0 blocks and 2.11 kills per set in earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and the tournament's Best Blocker award.
"Just being able to do that in three sets is really a testament to our character, considering that (Illinois State and UCSB) went five sets with Florida. I think it's good momentum going into this weekend."
Washington State is coming off the best season in program history. After winning 10 of their first 11 matches before the loss at Baylor, the Cougars went 22-12 overall and beat Marquette in the NCAA Championships before a second-round loss to third-ranked Wisconsin.
WSU opened this year on the road in Washington, D.C., with 3-1 losses to American University and Howard. The Cougars will face Incarnate Word at 3:45 p.m. CDT Thursday before the primetime matchup against the Bears at Bohler Gym.
"I know they'll bring their best against us," McGuyre said, "and I'm looking forward to probably another battle."
The Bears will face Quinnipiac (0-4) at 7 p.m. CDT Friday, then close out the three-day, five-team tournament with a matchup against College of Charleston (3-1) at noon CDT Saturday.
Instead of returning to Waco, the team will travel directly to Honolulu for next week's Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge. Baylor will face Nevada at 9:45 p.m. CDT next Thursday, Sept. 7, the host Hawaii team at 12 midnight CDT Friday, Sept. 8, and 10th-ranked BYU at 9:45 p.m. CDT Saturday, Sept. 9.
"My biggest hope for our team is that we know it's a business trip, that we're grateful that we get to Washington and not have to come back but go straight to Hawaii," Freiberg said. "Being in Hawaii will be a privilege, but we have to know that we have a lot of good competition coming our way. So, we have to keep our eyes really focused. School is going to be taken care of first and then we'll get the wins."
WACO, Texas -- The Baylor volleyball team will hit the road for the first time this season as it travels to Pullman, Wash. to face Washington State, Quinnipiac and College of Charleston at the Cougar Challenge Tournament at Bohler Gym.
Redshirt senior Katie Staiger will play in her 100th career match against Washington State on Thursday as the Bears face the Cougars at 10 p.m. CT on Thursday. Baylor and Quinnipiac meet for the first time in program history at 7 p.m. CT on Friday. BU (2-1) wraps up tournament play with a noon CT match against Charleston.
BAYLOR RECENTLY
- Baylor volleyball opened the 2017 campaign with a 2-1 showing at the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational, sweeping Illinois State and UC Santa Barbara while falling to No. 15 Florida State in four sets.
- Baylor's matchup against Florida State drew the largest crowd to see a volleyball match at the Ferrell Center. Last Friday's attendance (3,617) surpassed the previous record of 3,044 set on Oct. 2, 2013 against Texas.
- Baylor was paced by Katie Staiger in the season opener, securing her 21st career double-double with a 19-kill and 11-dig performance against the Seminoles. Freshmen Hannah Lockin and Yossiana Pressley got their first career starts on Friday.
- BU held Illinois State to a .000 hitting effort and had a 63-dig efficiency in the back court, led by Aniah Philo with 18 digs in the three-set sweep.
- The Bears closed out the Baylor Invitational with a three-set victory over UCSB, holding the Gauchos to a -.009 average. Shelly Fanning recorded the fourth-best hitting percentage in a three-set match in program history as she hit .765 for 13 kills on 17 attacks (minimum 10 kills).
BEARS VS. COUGAR CHALLENGE OPPONENTS
- Baylor is a combined 3-2 all-time against Washington State, Quinnipiac and the College of Charleston.
- The Bears will face the Quinnipiac Bobcats for the first time in program history.
- BU faced Washington State last season at home, triumphing 15-9 in the fifth set.
- Baylor also met Charleston last season, sweeping the Cougars in three sets.
FREIBERG NAMED BIG 12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
- Camryn Freiberg was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, announced by the conference office Monday afternoon.
- The 5-11 middle hitter from Allen, Texas led the Big 12 with 18 total blocks in the Bears' first three matches last weekend.
- Her 2.00 blocks per set leads the league as she was named the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational's best blocker on Sunday.
#HOUSTONSTRONG - HELPING RICE VOLLEYBALL
- After the effects of Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area last weekend, Baylor volleyball extended its hand to the Rice volleyball team over the last week.
- Coach McGuyre and the staff opened up their gym to allow Rice to practice until they could hit the road for a tournament in Colorado.
- Shelby Livingstone, a Rice redshirt junior outside hitter, is the daughter of Baylor President Dr. Linda Livingstone. Dr. Livingstone originally planned on hosting the team for dinner Sunday night before the team ended up staying in Waco for the week.
- The team stayed in a nearby hotel during their stay. They were also given access to the Baylor dining facilities.
RECEIVING RECOGNITION IN AVCA COACHES POLL
- Baylor volleyball received 30 votes in the Aug. 28 edition of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll.
- The Bears also received votes in the preseason poll, marking the first time since 2000 and second time overall that a Baylor team has either received votes or come into the season ranked by the AVCA. The Bears received votes for three consecutive weeks last season.
- Four Big 12 teams are either ranked or receiving votes: No. 4 Texas, No. 9 Kansas, No. 25 Iowa State and Baylor (RV).
