According to a piece done by the Waco Trib, Baylor’s 2016 All-American outside hitter Katie Staiger is currently out with a foot injury. It was previously reported by VolleyMob that Staiger was resting to prevent possibly injury as the Bears gear up for the postseason. That still may be true in regards to the foot injury, as we currently do not have a timetable for return.
Over the last five matches, Staiger missed the entirety of the first four and played in just one set in the most recent outing – a win at Kansas. In that limited time she record a kill on three swings. Her playing at all suggests that if she had to, she could play through it though. However, with Baylor winning their last 15 sets behind the emergence of Yossiana Pressley, there has been no need to rush Staiger along. Instead, it seems as if they are saving her for the postseason – or even the regular season finale vs. Texas on senior day.
Staiger was a unanimous choice for 2017 preseason All-Big honors after she was on the first team in the 2016 postseason and was AVCA All-America second team. In that season, she notched a school-record 698 kills, good for 5.45 per set while still hitting .259 and adding 2.67 digs per set.
This season, in 22 matches played, Staiger has totaled 337 kills (4.21 per set) while hitting .241. She’s added 2.71 digs per set too on a team that is more balanced than last year – proven by their success with Staiger on the mend.
As Baylor has been able to overcome playing without their star fifth-year senior, they should have her in their back pocket as a secret tool in postseason play. At this point, it might even be some home matches in the NCAA Tournament as the Bears recent success has them at #14 in our latest VolleyMob Top 25 Power Rankings.
Baylor will finish off the season with matches vs. Kansas State and at West Virginia this week before hosting Texas on senior day next week.
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