Baylor volleyball (18-6, 6-2 Big 12) grinded out a 3-1 win over Oklahoma, 22-25, 25-11, 28-26, 27-25, Saturday afternoon at the Ferrell Center.
The victory snapped an eight-match losing streak to the Sooners (12-9, 3-5 Big 12), including the squad’s first home win against OU since Sept. 28, 2008.
The win gives BU a 6-2 conference record at the halfway mark of Big 12 play, exceeding last season’s conference win total (5).
Redshirt junior Katie Staiger led the Bears with her 12th season double-double, adding 19 kills and 14 digs in the win. Aniah Philo and Ashley Fritcher added 15 and 13 kills, respectively. Both totals were season and career highs for the sophomores.
The Bears led early in set one, but a late run by the Sooners forced BU to take a timeout. Baylor saved two set points before dropping the opening frame, 25-22.
Baylor jumped out to a 5-1 lead early in set two and never looked back. The Bears rolled with 15 kills and only one attack error, led by junior Camryn Freiberg with 5 kills in set two. BU took the set, 25-11, after holding OU to a .029 attack average.
Baylor and OU fought back and forth in the fourth set with neither team leading by more than a point early. BU was forced to call a timeout after a 20-17 Oklahoma lead. Baylor converted its third set point for the 28-26 win.
Much like the third set, set four went to extra points. Baylor saved a set point with a block from Fritcher and freshman Nicole Thomas, and senior Morgan Reed added the final kill for the 27-25 set win.
HIGHLIGHTS
• BU snapped a seven-match home losing streak to Oklahoma, dating back to Sept. 28, 2008.
• The 6-2 record for the Bears in Big 12 play matches the best start to the conference season in program history, matching the 2009 squad.
• The win gives BU a 6-2 conference record at the halfway mark of Big 12 play, exceeding last season’s conference win total (5).
• The Bears now have 18 wins in 2016, exceeding last season’s year-end win total of 17.
• Ashley Fritcher recorded a career-high 13 kills on a .276 attack effort, helping BU reach match point in set four.
• Katie Staiger (19 kills, 14 digs) and Aniah Philo (15 kills, 13 digs) each recorded double-doubles in Saturday’s win.
STAT OF THE DAY
6 – the amount of conference wins at the halfway point of Big 12 play, matching the 2009 squad for the best start to conference action in program history.
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor has a mid-week bye before traveling to face Kansas State on Oct. 29 in Manhattan, Kan. at 7 p.m. CT.
