Saturday, September 14
Waco, Texas
1:00 p.m. CT
Baylor
7-0
3
vs
0
Tennessee
3-4
1
2
3
F
Tennessee
18
17
16
0
Baylor
25
25
25
3
No. 5 VB Sweeps Tennessee in Front of Record-Breaking Crowd
9/14/2019 4:48:00 PM | Volleyball
Baylor breaks its all-time attendance record for the third consecutive year on “Pack the House” Night
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Looking more like the team that was so dominant in a 5-0 start that included three wins over ranked opponents, the fifth-ranked Baylor volleyball team got its broom back out with a 3-0 sweep of Tennessee, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16, Saturday afternoon before a packed house at the Ferrell Center.
Playing before a program-record crowd of 3,878, the Bears (7-0) finished off the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational with an impressive win over the Vols (3-4) by hitting .333 as a team and registering 9.5 blocks and five aces.
"(That was) so much fun. I felt like I was getting ready to get on an airplane and take off at the start of the game," coach Ryan McGuyre said. "We're a family here, and a great family knows how to multiply the joy. When you can make some great plays and play good volleyball, and you get to multiply that by almost 4,000 people out there, it's just exponentially exciting and fun."
After struggling in pretty much every area in a 3-1 win over Houston on Thursday, the Bears looked much sharper from the first point to the last. They had just 10 errors on 84 total swings for the match and cut their service errors from 13 down to three.
"We got out of it with a (win), but we all wanted more. . . . We knew we could have done so much more than we did," said sophomore Marieke van der Mark, who had a .500 hitting percentage with six kills and five blocks.
Junior outside hitter Yossiana Pressley, the tournament MVP with 36 kills in the two matches, said the team fed off the crowd.
"I think the difference was how engaged we were in our intensity," Pressley said, "and I feel like the crowd definitely helped us, too. (On Thursday,) we had a lot of people too, but everyone was surrounding us, and we were like, 'Wow, (we have) a lot of people here supporting us.' That helped a lot."
Pressley and senior middle blocker Shelly Stafford had four kills apiece in a first set that saw Baylor jump out to a 9-3 lead. Tennessee got as close as 19-16 on a 3-0 run that included back-to-back kills by Tessa Grubbs, but the Bears won six of the next eight points and closed it out on an attack error by Alyssa Andreno.
Junior Hannah Lockin, named best setter on the all-tournament team, recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 13 digs. She spread the ball around and helped the Bears attack from every spot on the floor, with middle blockers Stafford and freshman Kara McGhee combining for 12 kills and only one error on 23 swings.
"What Hannah's got to do is take a look at what's happening on the other side, have a sense for who's dialed-in and who's playing really well and not forget that we've got two All-Americans middles," McGuyre said. "Kara's going to be one sooner than later. It keeps the opponents honest. And if they've got to worry about both our middles, it makes Yossi and Gia (Milana) and Marieke threats, too."
It's clear that van der Mark is starting to come into her own and make her mark, hitting a sizzling .397 for the season. She also brings a high level of passion, screaming on just about every point.
"I'm always emotionally and physically exhausted after every game. I'm surprised that I still have my voice," she said.
Pressley said the rest of the team has challenged van der Mark to "be intense. You're 6-6, get in people's face." And that's what she's doing.
"They've all been challenging me to block more balls and do more things," van der Mark said. "Just being here already two years, this was the year to break through, and Coach has given me the chance to start the game. Just being here is unreal, it's so amazing."
In the second set, the Bears had to rally from an 11-9 deficit, but went up 2-0 with a closing 16-6 run. Stafford and Lockin both had aces in the set, and van der Mark capped it with a kill.
"Her energy is great. That really helps us sustain it," McGuyre said of van der Mark. "She's dialed-in as a blocker, she's dialed-in and ready to serve. And when we give her the ball, she's ready."
Baylor never trailed in the third set, going on a 6-1 run after the Vols tied it up at 12-12 on a kill by Lily Felts. Pressley had two kills and an ace in that decisive stretch, and then van der Mark finished it again with another kill that was tipped out of bounds by the Vols' block.
"We have so many good hitters on the court. Hannah can set any of us, and we'll all put it away," van der Mark said. "We're all so tight, it's like we're all best friends. It's like a family. They're all my sisters, they're all amazing. I really love them."
Baylor wraps up non-conference play with three home matches, hosting #21 Missouri and 18th-ranked Hawaii in next weekend's Baylor Classic and then Texas State the following Tuesday, Sept. 24.
THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas – No. 5 Baylor volleyball (7-0) closed out the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational with a 3-0 sweep of Tennessee (3-4) behind a record-breaking crowd Saturday afternoon at the Ferrell Center, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16.
BU broke the all-time attendance mark for the third consecutive season on "Pack the House" Night and totaled 3,878 fans for Saturday's match. The total bested last year's record of 3,858 against LSU.
The Baylor offense hit over .300 for the third consecutive match, posting a .333 clip and defensively limited Tennessee to a .161 average.
Led by Hannah Lockin's fourth double-double of the season, the Bears swept their fifth opponent and first at home to win the tournament title.
BU opened the match with an early 6-0 run to go up 12-6 and force the Tennessee timeout. Yossiana Pressley and Shelly Stafford paced the offense with four kills apiece, and the defense posted three blocks to take the opener, 25-18.
BU fell behind 11-9 after a Lady Vol service ace in set two, but the Bears came back with a 6-2 run to take the 15-13 lead at the media timeout. Marieke van der Mark's third kill of the match gave Baylor the 2-0 lead, 25-17.
The Bears led a balanced offensive attack in set three. With three players posting three kills each, Baylor closed out the match on a 6-2 run for the sweep at home, 25-16.
To keep up with things all season long, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @BaylorVBall.
HIGHLIGHTS
• BU broke its all-time attendance record for the third consecutive year with 3,878 fans in attendance Saturday. The previous all-time high was against LSU with 3,858 fans on Aug. 24, 2018.
• Baylor swept its fifth opponent in seven matches and for the first time at home this season.
• BU opens the season at 7-0 for the first time under McGuyre and for the first time since 2009.
• BU hit .333 for its third .300-or-better performance this season.
• Yossiana Pressley led the Bears with 12 kills and was one of three Bears to record a service ace.
• Hannah Lockin posted her team-leading fourth double-double of the season with 26 assists and 13 digs against Tennessee.
• Lockin posted a career-high three service aces against the Lady Vols.
• Baylor is now 30-11 as a ranked team under McGuyre.
• Baylor improved to 27-3 in non-conference home matches under McGuyre.
• Baylor won the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational for the third time under McGuyre with a 2-0 record. Tennessee finished second with a 1-1 record, followed by Houston with an 0-2 mark.
• Baylor had three All-Tournament awards with Yossiana Pressley (Highest Scorer, MVP) and Hannah Lockin (Best Setter) earning recognition. Tennessee's Alyssa Andreno (Best Blocker) and Tessa Grubbs (Best Attacker) and Houston's Katie Karbo (Best Defender) rounded out the all-tournament honors.
STAT OF THE MATCH
3,878 – the new all-time attendance record at a Baylor volleyball match.
TOP QUOTE #1
Head coach Ryan McGuyre
On the win…
"Tennessee's a really good team, really physical. We were able to get our blocking going again. Obviously, we were disappointed on that the other night. Three or higher per set is what we're trying to do, or at least have an influence on the match. We served much, much better, obviously, because more were in but more were tougher. Hannah Lockin just did a great job managing the offense. To hit .333 against a good team like that is what we need to do, and I just feel her decision-making is a testament to what Coach (Sam) Erger is doing in training her. She's just matured so much."
TOP QUOTE #2
Head coach Ryan McGuyre
On the record-breaking crowd…
"Oh, so much fun. I felt like I was getting ready to get on an airplane and take off at the start of the game. We've said it all the time, but we're a family here. And a great family knows how to multiply the joy. So, when you can make some great plays and play good volleyball and you get to multiply that by almost 4,000 people out there, it's just exponentially exciting and fun. Our girls really want to play well, not for themselves, for the Lord and just to be able to have a platform. So, to bring something special to Waco, where Kim Mulkey has done such a great job, to catch up to her crowds. But, to let that continue to be a part of what Baylor is all about, and make us a basketball school and a volleyball school and a football school and all our other sports. We're just glad that we're able to contribute in that way."
WHAT'S NEXT
BU (7-0) will host the Baylor Classic next Friday through Sunday and will face No. 18 Hawai'i and No. 21 Missouri at the Ferrell Center.
BU will face the Tigers at 6 p.m. CT Friday and then close out the tournament against the Rainbow Wahine Sunday at 2 p.m. Both matches will be live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Fans can purchase tickets online at www.BaylorBears.com.
Baylor Bear Insider
Looking more like the team that was so dominant in a 5-0 start that included three wins over ranked opponents, the fifth-ranked Baylor volleyball team got its broom back out with a 3-0 sweep of Tennessee, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16, Saturday afternoon before a packed house at the Ferrell Center.
Playing before a program-record crowd of 3,878, the Bears (7-0) finished off the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational with an impressive win over the Vols (3-4) by hitting .333 as a team and registering 9.5 blocks and five aces.
"(That was) so much fun. I felt like I was getting ready to get on an airplane and take off at the start of the game," coach Ryan McGuyre said. "We're a family here, and a great family knows how to multiply the joy. When you can make some great plays and play good volleyball, and you get to multiply that by almost 4,000 people out there, it's just exponentially exciting and fun."
After struggling in pretty much every area in a 3-1 win over Houston on Thursday, the Bears looked much sharper from the first point to the last. They had just 10 errors on 84 total swings for the match and cut their service errors from 13 down to three.
"We got out of it with a (win), but we all wanted more. . . . We knew we could have done so much more than we did," said sophomore Marieke van der Mark, who had a .500 hitting percentage with six kills and five blocks.
Junior outside hitter Yossiana Pressley, the tournament MVP with 36 kills in the two matches, said the team fed off the crowd.
"I think the difference was how engaged we were in our intensity," Pressley said, "and I feel like the crowd definitely helped us, too. (On Thursday,) we had a lot of people too, but everyone was surrounding us, and we were like, 'Wow, (we have) a lot of people here supporting us.' That helped a lot."
Pressley and senior middle blocker Shelly Stafford had four kills apiece in a first set that saw Baylor jump out to a 9-3 lead. Tennessee got as close as 19-16 on a 3-0 run that included back-to-back kills by Tessa Grubbs, but the Bears won six of the next eight points and closed it out on an attack error by Alyssa Andreno.
Junior Hannah Lockin, named best setter on the all-tournament team, recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 13 digs. She spread the ball around and helped the Bears attack from every spot on the floor, with middle blockers Stafford and freshman Kara McGhee combining for 12 kills and only one error on 23 swings.
"What Hannah's got to do is take a look at what's happening on the other side, have a sense for who's dialed-in and who's playing really well and not forget that we've got two All-Americans middles," McGuyre said. "Kara's going to be one sooner than later. It keeps the opponents honest. And if they've got to worry about both our middles, it makes Yossi and Gia (Milana) and Marieke threats, too."
It's clear that van der Mark is starting to come into her own and make her mark, hitting a sizzling .397 for the season. She also brings a high level of passion, screaming on just about every point.
"I'm always emotionally and physically exhausted after every game. I'm surprised that I still have my voice," she said.
Pressley said the rest of the team has challenged van der Mark to "be intense. You're 6-6, get in people's face." And that's what she's doing.
"They've all been challenging me to block more balls and do more things," van der Mark said. "Just being here already two years, this was the year to break through, and Coach has given me the chance to start the game. Just being here is unreal, it's so amazing."
In the second set, the Bears had to rally from an 11-9 deficit, but went up 2-0 with a closing 16-6 run. Stafford and Lockin both had aces in the set, and van der Mark capped it with a kill.
"Her energy is great. That really helps us sustain it," McGuyre said of van der Mark. "She's dialed-in as a blocker, she's dialed-in and ready to serve. And when we give her the ball, she's ready."
Baylor never trailed in the third set, going on a 6-1 run after the Vols tied it up at 12-12 on a kill by Lily Felts. Pressley had two kills and an ace in that decisive stretch, and then van der Mark finished it again with another kill that was tipped out of bounds by the Vols' block.
"We have so many good hitters on the court. Hannah can set any of us, and we'll all put it away," van der Mark said. "We're all so tight, it's like we're all best friends. It's like a family. They're all my sisters, they're all amazing. I really love them."
Baylor wraps up non-conference play with three home matches, hosting #21 Missouri and 18th-ranked Hawaii in next weekend's Baylor Classic and then Texas State the following Tuesday, Sept. 24.
THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas – No. 5 Baylor volleyball (7-0) closed out the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational with a 3-0 sweep of Tennessee (3-4) behind a record-breaking crowd Saturday afternoon at the Ferrell Center, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16.
BU broke the all-time attendance mark for the third consecutive season on "Pack the House" Night and totaled 3,878 fans for Saturday's match. The total bested last year's record of 3,858 against LSU.
The Baylor offense hit over .300 for the third consecutive match, posting a .333 clip and defensively limited Tennessee to a .161 average.
Led by Hannah Lockin's fourth double-double of the season, the Bears swept their fifth opponent and first at home to win the tournament title.
BU opened the match with an early 6-0 run to go up 12-6 and force the Tennessee timeout. Yossiana Pressley and Shelly Stafford paced the offense with four kills apiece, and the defense posted three blocks to take the opener, 25-18.
BU fell behind 11-9 after a Lady Vol service ace in set two, but the Bears came back with a 6-2 run to take the 15-13 lead at the media timeout. Marieke van der Mark's third kill of the match gave Baylor the 2-0 lead, 25-17.
The Bears led a balanced offensive attack in set three. With three players posting three kills each, Baylor closed out the match on a 6-2 run for the sweep at home, 25-16.
To keep up with things all season long, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @BaylorVBall.
HIGHLIGHTS
• BU broke its all-time attendance record for the third consecutive year with 3,878 fans in attendance Saturday. The previous all-time high was against LSU with 3,858 fans on Aug. 24, 2018.
• Baylor swept its fifth opponent in seven matches and for the first time at home this season.
• BU opens the season at 7-0 for the first time under McGuyre and for the first time since 2009.
• BU hit .333 for its third .300-or-better performance this season.
• Yossiana Pressley led the Bears with 12 kills and was one of three Bears to record a service ace.
• Hannah Lockin posted her team-leading fourth double-double of the season with 26 assists and 13 digs against Tennessee.
• Lockin posted a career-high three service aces against the Lady Vols.
• Baylor is now 30-11 as a ranked team under McGuyre.
• Baylor improved to 27-3 in non-conference home matches under McGuyre.
• Baylor won the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational for the third time under McGuyre with a 2-0 record. Tennessee finished second with a 1-1 record, followed by Houston with an 0-2 mark.
• Baylor had three All-Tournament awards with Yossiana Pressley (Highest Scorer, MVP) and Hannah Lockin (Best Setter) earning recognition. Tennessee's Alyssa Andreno (Best Blocker) and Tessa Grubbs (Best Attacker) and Houston's Katie Karbo (Best Defender) rounded out the all-tournament honors.
STAT OF THE MATCH
3,878 – the new all-time attendance record at a Baylor volleyball match.
TOP QUOTE #1
Head coach Ryan McGuyre
On the win…
"Tennessee's a really good team, really physical. We were able to get our blocking going again. Obviously, we were disappointed on that the other night. Three or higher per set is what we're trying to do, or at least have an influence on the match. We served much, much better, obviously, because more were in but more were tougher. Hannah Lockin just did a great job managing the offense. To hit .333 against a good team like that is what we need to do, and I just feel her decision-making is a testament to what Coach (Sam) Erger is doing in training her. She's just matured so much."
TOP QUOTE #2
Head coach Ryan McGuyre
On the record-breaking crowd…
"Oh, so much fun. I felt like I was getting ready to get on an airplane and take off at the start of the game. We've said it all the time, but we're a family here. And a great family knows how to multiply the joy. So, when you can make some great plays and play good volleyball and you get to multiply that by almost 4,000 people out there, it's just exponentially exciting and fun. Our girls really want to play well, not for themselves, for the Lord and just to be able to have a platform. So, to bring something special to Waco, where Kim Mulkey has done such a great job, to catch up to her crowds. But, to let that continue to be a part of what Baylor is all about, and make us a basketball school and a volleyball school and a football school and all our other sports. We're just glad that we're able to contribute in that way."
WHAT'S NEXT
BU (7-0) will host the Baylor Classic next Friday through Sunday and will face No. 18 Hawai'i and No. 21 Missouri at the Ferrell Center.
BU will face the Tigers at 6 p.m. CT Friday and then close out the tournament against the Rainbow Wahine Sunday at 2 p.m. Both matches will be live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Fans can purchase tickets online at www.BaylorBears.com.
Team Stats
UT
BU
Kills
34
38
Errors
19
10
Attempts
93
84
Hitting %
.161
.333
Points
43.5
52.5
Assists
31
38
Aces
3
5
Blocks
6.5
9.5
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOPP
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