K-State Rallies to Defeat Baylor, 3-2
Oct 13, 2001 | Volleyball
Oct. 13, 2001
Manhattan, Kan. - The Kansas State women's volleyball team dominated the first two games then held off a fierce Baylor comeback to move its home record to 8-1 on the year with a 30-15, 30-23, 22-30, 26-30, 15-11 victory on Saturday night before 1,306 fans at Ahearn Field House.
With the win, Kansas State improves to 10-5 and 6-3 in Big 12 Conference play, while Baylor saw its three-match winning streak end to fall to 11-5 and 3-5 in league action.
Baylor edged Kansas State in the statistics, tallying more kills (71-68) and digs (79-75), however, the Wildcats dominated the net with 11 more blocks (17-6) and posted a higher hitting percentage (.250 - .215).
"I really felt good about our play in the first two games," said head coach Suzie Fritz in her first match since she was promoted from interim coach to head coach on Thursday. "I thought we got on their tendencies and had them frustrated in those games. However, a good team like Baylor doesn't quit and they were able to get back in the match. We stayed strong and fought through some adversity and played K-State Volleyball in game five. This is a big win for us."
Kansas State looked impressive in winning the first two games against Baylor. The Wildcats used a .406 hitting percentage, while holding the Bears to negative .043 to win game one, 30-15. K-State then posted five services in game two to outdistance Baylor, 30-23. However, the Bears knotted the match at two-games apiece with a 30-22 win in game three and a 30-26 win in game four. The two teams then went back and forth in game five before the Wildcats broke a 10-all tie with four straight points in an eventual 15-11 victory.
Junior Jenny Pollard led five Wildcats with double-doubles in the match, as the outside hitter posted a team-best 16 kills to go with 12 digs. Senior co-captain Liz Wegner got back on track with 14 kills and 13 digs, while fellow co-captain Lisa Mimick tallied 14 kills, 12 digs and seven blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Lauren Goehring turned in near triple-double with 10 kills on .429 hitting to along with 11 digs, nine blocks and two aces. Freshman Gabby Guerre ran an effective Wildcat offense with 51 assists, a team-high 15 digs and six kills.
Kansas State takes a much-deserved break at the mid-point of the Big 12 season with an open-date on Wednesday. The Wildcats return to action on Friday, Oct. 19, as the team travels to Norman, Okla., to face Oklahoma. Earlier this season on Sept. 19, K-State dispatched of the Sooners in three games at home.
