MATCH NOTES
- #24 Baylor def. Texas-San Antonio 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 18-25, 25-20)
- Baylor moves to 10-3; UTSA drops to 2-10
- Jason’s Deli Baylor Classic, Waco, Texas
- Attendance: 842
- Box Score
- VolleyMob Top 25 (Week 4)
The #24 Baylor Bears capped an undefeated weekend with a 3-1 victory over the University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners. Two players from the host school were named to the Jason’s Deli Baylor Classic all-tournament team: senior outside Katie Staiger (MVP) and sophomore middle Shelly Fanning (best blocker).
In Baylor’s earlier match against St. John’s, Staiger also became the Bears’ all-time kills leader in the rally scoring era, eclipsing the previous mark (1,547) held by Katie Sanders, who played for Baylor from 2006-2009.
In the UTSA match, Staiger recorded a double-double (14 kills, 15 digs) and Fanning added 6 blocks and 12 kills, hitting at an impressive .579 clip. Freshman setter Hannah Lockin dished out 44 assists.
The Roadrunners were led offensively by senior outside Marijeta Runjic, who had 12 kills in the match and was named Best Attacker on the all-tournament team. Sophomore outside Brianna McCulloch chipped in another 10 kills for the visitors.
After Baylor won the first two sets convincingly, the Roadrunners bounced back in the third, hitting at a .500 clip to take the frame 25-18. The fourth set saw the teams tied nine separate times before the Bears won 25-20.
Baylor opens Big 12 play at home on Wednesday against Texas Tech, while the Roadrunners face another strong opponent on Tuesday, hosting the #6 Texas Longhorns in UTSA’s final non-conference match.
#SicUTSA ✅
Tournament Champions ✅Check out tonight's highlights that capped off a 4-0 week for the Bears. #SicEm pic.twitter.com/AgImfYn3G7
— Baylor Volleyball (@BaylorVBall) September 17, 2017
Jason’s Deli Baylor Classic All-Tournament Team
- Katie Staiger, Baylor (MVP)
- Shelly Fanning, Baylor (Best Blocker)
- Marijeta Runjic, UTSA (Best Attacker)
- Erica Di Maulo, St. John’s (best setter)
- Micah Dinwiddie, Texas State (best defender).
PRESS RELEASES
Courtesy: Baylor Athletics
VB FINISHES STRONG AT JASON’S DELI BAYLOR CLASSIC
Katie Staiger Broke A Program Record In The Bears’ 2-0 Day In Waco.
THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas — Baylor volleyball finished out the non-conference schedule with five straight wins as the Bears (10-3) went 2-0 in the final day of the Jason’s Deli Baylor Classic, sweeping St. John’s and defeating UTSA in four sets Saturday at the Ferrell Center.
On her 12th kill against St. John’s (8-6), senior Katie Staiger became the Baylor all-time kills leader in the rally scoring era, shattering Katie Sanders’ (2006-09) record of 1,547. Staiger has 1,570 heading into the next match.
MATCH ONE: BAYLOR 3, ST. JOHN’S 0
The Bears battled the Red Storm point-for-point to open the match. Kills by Staiger and Yossiana Pressley forced a SJU timeout at 13-10. The Red Storm would bring it within two at 16-14, but the Bears used 21 digs to take the opening frame, 25-20.
Staiger turned it up in the second set, shattering the all-time rally scoring record with seven more kills to lead Baylor with a .462 hitting efficiency. The Bears limited St. John’s to an -.043-attack effort in the second, winning 25-13.
BU kept the foot on the gas as it hit .484 with eight more kills from Staiger. An Aniah Philo kill ended the match as the Bears got the sweep, 25-21.
MATCH TWO: BAYLOR 3, UTSA 1
The Bears jumped back on the court to close out the Baylor Classic, going full steam ahead in the opening set. A Staiger and Tola Itiola block forced a Roadrunner timeout at 11-6, and the Bears rolled to a 25-18 win.
BU kept the momentum as the team hit .429 and limited UTSA to a -.061 hitting clip in the second. Fueled by Staiger and Fanning’s seven combined kills, the Bears took the 2-0 advantage with a 25-14 second-set win.
BU struggled to come back from an early 8-3 deficit in the third set, allowing UTSA to hit .500 and drop the frame, 25-18.
Baylor and UTSA went toe-to-toe in the fourth set and tied up the match nine times before BU took the lead for good
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Bears finish non-conference play with a 10-3 record. This is the fourth-straight year Baylor has captured at least 10 wins before Big 12 play and every year since McGuyre’s arrival three seasons ago.
• Katie Staiger is the new Baylor all-time kills leader in the rally scoring era, passing Katie Sanders (2006-09) who held the previous record with 1,547 kills.
• Staiger also moved into second all-time in career kills with 1,570, passing Stevie Nicholas (2000-03). She trails Elisha Polk (1996-99) who leads with 2,272.
• Baylor (3-0) won the Jason’s Deli Baylor Classic, besting UTSA (2-1), St. John’s (1-2) and Texas State (0-3).
• The all-tournament team includes: Katie Staiger (MVP), Shelly Fanning (best blocker), UTSA’s Marijeta Runjic (best attacker), St. John’s Erica Di Maulo (best setter), and Texas State’s Micah Dinwiddie (best defender).
TOP QUOTE
“We looked a little fatigued finishing (against UTSA). I’m not going to lie I was feeling it myself going into it. It’s been a long two weeks with long travel and so much to work on, so we’re just trying to find that balance of working on it all but keeping (the players) fresh. It was hard, but it was great to see how we came out in those first two sets. When you give a team life and don’t play as crisp, then anything can happen.” –head coach Ryan McGuyre
WHAT’S NEXT
The Bears close the non-conference slate with a 10-3 record and host Texas Tech for the first Big 12 match of the season Wednesday at 7 p.m. The matchup will be featured on Fox Sports Southwest.
For the latest news on the Baylor volleyball team follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorVball.
Courtesy: Texas-San Antonio Athletics
Volleyball splits final day of Jason’s Deli Baylor Classic
WACO – UTSA volleyball split the final day of the Jason’s Deli Baylor Classic, topping Texas State in five sets, before falling to No. 28 Baylor, 3-1, on Saturday at the Ferrell Center.
Senior Marijeta Runjic and sophomore Brianna McCulloch propelled the UTSA offense with 26 kills each, while junior Amanda Gonzales aided the offense with 61 assists. Pacing the Roadrunner defense was sophomore Emily Ramirez with 31 digs followed by McCulloch with 25.
UTSA 3, Texas State 2
The Roadrunners saw themselves behind 2-1 in the match after Texas State won the third set 25-23.
The fourth set ignited a fire in the Roadrunners that saw UTSA score six-straight points midway through the period to seize control at 18-11, and that would be enough to stay on top for the six-point win.
UTSA extended its momentum with a trio of kills from McCulloch and Kara Teal to open the final set with an 11-5 advantage. Texas State clawed back to get within one at 14-13, but a kill from Runjic would secure the triumph for the Roadrunners.
Overall, UTSA led the match in attack percentage (.190-.138), aces (8-6) and blocks (13-10).
Baylor 3, UTSA 1
The Roadrunners jumped back on the court to close out the weekend against No. 28 Baylor.
The nationally-ranked Bears claimed the first two sets, but UTSA rallied to steal the third frame, 25-18. Registering a .500 hitting percentage, the Roadrunners opened the stanza with an 8-3 advantage and would play ahead for the rest of the set.
With UTSA looking to force the match into a fifth set, the teams went toe-to-toe in the fourth frame and tied up the match nine times before BU took the lead for good.
UTSA will return to the court on Tuesday, Sept. 19, when the Roadrunners welcome No. 6 Texas to the Convocation Center for their home opener.
Leave a Reply