By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            Even after a frustrating five-set loss to Texas Tech, the 11^th-ranked Baylor volleyball team (11-4, 5-1) is in position to host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament and maybe more. 
            "We've put in the work," said Baylor coach Ryan McGuyre, whose Bears will face West Virginia (13-4, 3-3) at 5 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, W. Va. 
            "To get into the top four, we have to probably win out. We just have to make sure we're hosting the first two rounds to get to the Sweet 16. At that point, everybody's good. It's just been good playing at home. I'd love to get them to come here instead of going somewhere else. But, that's out of our control."
            Baylor has strung together four-consecutive wins since the loss to Tech, including a pair of 3-1 victories over Kansas last weekend, to move up to No. 5 in the latest NCAA RPI rankings. Fifth-year senior Yossiana Pressley earned her conference-record 21^st weekly award, named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 6.13 kills per set in the two matches against the Jayhawks. 
            "Good performance by Yossi, and then Bri (Coleman) coming off the bench with some tough serves to kind of break things open for us," McGuyre said. "Avery (Skinner) has been nursing her leg issue, and she seemed a little fatigued in the match. And then, Yossi was in the flow. It was a combination of (Pressley) having the hot hand and then save some legs elsewhere."
            Much like the season-opening loss to Kansas last year, the loss to Tech still stings a little, McGuyre said, particularly since the Bears had a 2-0 sets lead. 
            "You have to learn from it, but the margins are so thin in this conference," he said. "You hope that it doesn't end up costing you somewhere down the road, which it very well could. . . . Traditionally, we've been pretty good when we go five."
            Baylor is 18-6 all-time against West Virginia, including 7-1 in Morgantown, and has won 12 in a row. In the back end of a two-match series last year, Pressley hit a mind-boggling .654 with 17 kills in sweeping the Mountaineers, 25-20, 25-14, 25-16. 
            "They're good, they've got experience, pretty much the same team as last year," McGuyre said. "I think they're playing together much better and have heavy hitters on the pins, which keeps you alive. It's kind of a swing hard, good things happen offense. So, it will be important that our defense travels, specifically our block, and make sure our serves are disruptive enough."
            Both matches this weekend will be streamed by Big 12 Now on ESPN+. 
            Following the road trip to West Virginia, the Bears will be off next weekend before hosting top-ranked Texas (15-0, 6-0) the following Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5-6, at the Ferrell Center.


MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – No. 11 Baylor volleyball is on the road again, taking on West Virginia on Friday (5 p.m. CT) and Saturday (4 p.m. CT) at the WVU Coliseum.
 
The Bears (11-4, 5-1 Big 12) take on the Mountaineers (13-4, 3-3 Big 12) after a series sweep of Kansas that flipped the all-time series leader to Baylor. The Bears are on a four-match winning streak and look to continue that against WVU. BU leads the all-time series with West Virginia, 18-3, while also leading the series in Morgantown, 7-1.
 
Baylor has produced a hitting percentage of .300 percent or higher in nine of its 15 matches this season, and Yossiana Pressley was a big factor in making sure the previous two matches were part of that. The senior recorded two 20-kill matches against Kansas, having 28 kills and 11 digs in the second match for her fifth double-double of the season. Her performances earned her the second Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week accolade of the fall, her 21^st weekly award from the Conference overall.
 
The Mountaineers come into the match after a split-decision series with Kansas State, falling in four sets in the first match and sweeping them in the second. WVU is led by Adrian Ell in kills with 181 so far this season, and Lacey Zerwas leads them in assists with 593. Their lead blocker is Briana Lynch who has 64.
 
Baylor's blocks per set (2.95) is top-10 in the country, sitting at No. 6 overall, and leading the Conference. Kara McGhee is No. 27 in the NCAA for blocks per set with 1.35, and leads the team as well. The BU squad is versatile, with multiple different players leading the team in total blocks across matches. 
 
BEAR BITES

• Kara McGhee knows WVU's Emmy Ogogor, both being from San Antonio.
• Baylor is 18-3 all-time against West Virginia and leads the series in Morgantown, 7-1.
• Yossiana Pressley earned her 21^st Big 12 weekly accolade, her 17^th Offensive Player of the Week honor.
• The Bears are 71-31 under Ryan McGuyre in Big 12 matches and 213-393 in conference play overall.
• BU is on a four-match winning streak and has won 10 out of the last 11 matches.
• Baylor has had a hitting percentage of .300 or more in nine of its 15 matches.

 
QUOTABLE – Head coach Ryan McGuyre
"We have to take care of business each week. If we keep doing that, that's further down the track that we're going to get. As we head into the end of October and early November, we have to make sure that our strides are moving us further."
 
QUOTABLE – Outside hitter Yossiana Pressley
"I don't think we've fully hit our stride. We have potential, and it's going to take a little bit longer to get there, but I'm excited to see where this team goes and the firepower that we can bring up come December."
 
Both matches with WVU will be streamed on ESPN+, with Saturday's match beginning at 4 p.m. CT.
 
To stay up to date throughout the season on all things Baylor volleyball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @BaylorVball.