Tuesday, November 26
Morgantown, W.Va.
6:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
11-17, 2-13
1
vs
3
Baylor
24-1, 14-1
1
2
3
4
F
Baylor
30
25
25
25
3
West Virginia
32
23
22
17
1
Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
WVU Battles with No. 1 Baylor, Drops Four-Set Match
November 26, 2019 10:27 PM | Volleyball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Senior outside hitter Katelyn Evans collected her 1,000th career kill, but the West Virginia University volleyball team suffered a 3-1 setback to No. 1-ranked Baylor on Tuesday evening, inside the WVU Coliseum, in Morgantown. The Mountaineers (11-17, 2-13) fell to the Lady Bears (24-1, 14-1) in set scores of 30-32, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-17.
Tuesday's match marked the third time this season West Virginia has faced the top-ranked team in the country. The Mountaineers went head-to-head with the Lady Bears in Waco, Texas, on Oct. 26, followed by a match at Texas on Nov. 3.
"I thought we battled hard," fifth-year coach Reed Sunahara said. "We have worked hard all year, and I thought the first set was indicative of what we can do as a team. We battled in the second and third, but we had a little bit of a let down in the fourth. Overall, I was happy with our performance. Obviously, we want to win, but I think we are getting closer to where we need to be."
Evans picked up her 1,000th kill on her 14th of the match and added four more to rank second on the team with 18 swings. Sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Kristina Jordan paved the way for WVU, registering 19 kills to hit .256 on the evening.
"I thought tonight was a good benchmark for her (Katelyn Evans) success here," Sunahara said. "She's had a good career. She definitely has had her ups and downs, but she's playing well right now. She has one more match, and hopefully, she can finish strong."
Sophomore setter Lacey Zerwas recorded her ninth double-double of the season, dishing out 49 assists and adding 13 digs in the match.
Additionally, junior defensive specialist Alexa Hasting led the team's floor defense with 17 digs, while Evans and junior middle blocker Briana Lynch totaled four block assists apiece to pace WVU's blocking efforts.
West Virginia produced 61 kills on 174 total attacks to hit .172 in the match. The Mountaineers also notched 70 digs and eight team blocks.
In an extended first set, West Virginia recorded 22 kills, including 10 from Evans, to claim the 32-30 first-set victory over Baylor. Trailing 18-11, Evans put down a kill to jump start a 4-0 scoring run in favor of WVU. The Lady Bears called a timeout, but the Mountaineers' offensive spark continued. Evans placed one through the pins, and freshman defensive specialist Natalie Winter served up an ace to cut WVU's deficit to two, as BU burned its final timeout of the set.
The Mountaineers came out of the stoppage firing on all cylinders and used another 5-0 scoring streak to take a 22-20 edge late in the frame. The Lady Bears then rattled off three straight points of their own, but kills from Lynch and Jordan put the Mountaineers at set point at 24-23. BU posted a kill to extend the frame on the next ball, serving set point for the first time at 27-26. West Virginia would serve set point three more times before winning the stanza, 32-20, on a kill from Jordan to take the 1-0 match lead.
The second set started similar to the first, with Baylor scoring seven-of-eight points to take a 15-14 lead. The two teams traded points down the stretch, as a kill from Evans kept WVU within one at 22-21. Right-side hitter Erin Slinde and redshirt junior middle blocker Audrey Adams teamed up for the stop on the next ball, tying the set at 22-all, but the Lady Bears captured three of the last four points for the 25-23 second-set win.
With the overall match tied at one set apiece, the Mountaineers couldn't keep the momentum going in sets three and four, falling by a score of 25-22 and 25-17, respectively.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers close their regular-season slate with a 1 p.m. ET tilt against Kansas (8-16, 4-10) on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Following the match, West Virginia will celebrate the careers of its 2019 senior class: Evans, defensive specialist Gabrielle Cuckovich and right-side hitter Erin Slinde. Saturday's match is a Gold Rush, and fans are encouraged to wear gold.
Additionally, Mountaineer fans will receive a free rally towel prior to the match. It's also Mountaineer Kids Club Day, and fans will have an opportunity to receive the Mountaineers' autographs one last time following the match.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Tuesday's match marked the third time this season West Virginia has faced the top-ranked team in the country. The Mountaineers went head-to-head with the Lady Bears in Waco, Texas, on Oct. 26, followed by a match at Texas on Nov. 3.
"I thought we battled hard," fifth-year coach Reed Sunahara said. "We have worked hard all year, and I thought the first set was indicative of what we can do as a team. We battled in the second and third, but we had a little bit of a let down in the fourth. Overall, I was happy with our performance. Obviously, we want to win, but I think we are getting closer to where we need to be."
Evans picked up her 1,000th kill on her 14th of the match and added four more to rank second on the team with 18 swings. Sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Kristina Jordan paved the way for WVU, registering 19 kills to hit .256 on the evening.
"I thought tonight was a good benchmark for her (Katelyn Evans) success here," Sunahara said. "She's had a good career. She definitely has had her ups and downs, but she's playing well right now. She has one more match, and hopefully, she can finish strong."
Sophomore setter Lacey Zerwas recorded her ninth double-double of the season, dishing out 49 assists and adding 13 digs in the match.
Additionally, junior defensive specialist Alexa Hasting led the team's floor defense with 17 digs, while Evans and junior middle blocker Briana Lynch totaled four block assists apiece to pace WVU's blocking efforts.
West Virginia produced 61 kills on 174 total attacks to hit .172 in the match. The Mountaineers also notched 70 digs and eight team blocks.
In an extended first set, West Virginia recorded 22 kills, including 10 from Evans, to claim the 32-30 first-set victory over Baylor. Trailing 18-11, Evans put down a kill to jump start a 4-0 scoring run in favor of WVU. The Lady Bears called a timeout, but the Mountaineers' offensive spark continued. Evans placed one through the pins, and freshman defensive specialist Natalie Winter served up an ace to cut WVU's deficit to two, as BU burned its final timeout of the set.
The Mountaineers came out of the stoppage firing on all cylinders and used another 5-0 scoring streak to take a 22-20 edge late in the frame. The Lady Bears then rattled off three straight points of their own, but kills from Lynch and Jordan put the Mountaineers at set point at 24-23. BU posted a kill to extend the frame on the next ball, serving set point for the first time at 27-26. West Virginia would serve set point three more times before winning the stanza, 32-20, on a kill from Jordan to take the 1-0 match lead.
The second set started similar to the first, with Baylor scoring seven-of-eight points to take a 15-14 lead. The two teams traded points down the stretch, as a kill from Evans kept WVU within one at 22-21. Right-side hitter Erin Slinde and redshirt junior middle blocker Audrey Adams teamed up for the stop on the next ball, tying the set at 22-all, but the Lady Bears captured three of the last four points for the 25-23 second-set win.
With the overall match tied at one set apiece, the Mountaineers couldn't keep the momentum going in sets three and four, falling by a score of 25-22 and 25-17, respectively.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers close their regular-season slate with a 1 p.m. ET tilt against Kansas (8-16, 4-10) on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Following the match, West Virginia will celebrate the careers of its 2019 senior class: Evans, defensive specialist Gabrielle Cuckovich and right-side hitter Erin Slinde. Saturday's match is a Gold Rush, and fans are encouraged to wear gold.
Additionally, Mountaineer fans will receive a free rally towel prior to the match. It's also Mountaineer Kids Club Day, and fans will have an opportunity to receive the Mountaineers' autographs one last time following the match.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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Team Stats
BU
WVU
Kills
60
61
Errors
26
31
Attempts
166
174
Hitting %
.205
.172
Points
75.0
71.0
Assists
56
57
Aces
3
2
Blocks
12.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballMB/OH
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
S/RS
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
S
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