Sept. 1, 2000

Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas - HOUSTON, Texas - Baylor University's 21st-ranked volleyball team got the 2000 season started on the right foot here Friday with a pair of 3-0 victories in first-day action of the Rice University Tournament at Autry Court. The Bears defeated North Texas in the morning match and then blanked Louisiana Tech in the evening.

In the first match, the Bears took control of the match early with a 15-2 decision in game one. Baylor hit .462 against the Eagles with only two errors, while forcing North Texas into nine attacking errors against only five kills. The Bears wrapped up the match with a 15-6 win in game two and a 15-4 victory in the third game.

Freshman Stevie Nicholas made a name for herself in her first collegiate match, leading all players with 16 kills and hitting at a .433 clip. Sunny Nicholas had a match-high 10 digs and Dana Chuha tallied 35 assists. Kirsten Berg hit .455 on the match with six kills, while Margo Singley came off the bench to notch four kills in five attempts with no errors. As a team, Baylor hit .333 in the first match as opposed to -.081 for the Eagles.

The Nicholas sisters were again the driving force for the Bears against Louisiana Tech, guiding Baylor to a 15-8, 15-11, 15-5 triumph. Stevie Nicholas registered her first-career double-double with 17 kills and 17 digs, both match highs. Sunny Nicholas added 11 kills and a pair of service aces.

Baylor hit .288 against Louisiana Tech and tallied 11 total blocks. Amy Wallace and Carol Selman led the Bears along the front line with four blocks each. Chuha had 46 assists and was one of nine Bears with at least one block. Baylor forced Tech into 24 attacking errors.