Oct. 29, 2009

Box Score

Baylor's Torri Campbell recorded career highs with 18 kills and nine blocks, but the pesky Cyclones erased two Baylor match-points in the final set to defeat the Bears. The match featured spectacular defense by both teams, as they combined for 226 digs and 24.5 blocks. Iowa State had 122 digs to 104 for Baylor, while the Bears racked up a season-high 15.5 blocks to nine for the Cyclones.

"It's disappointing to not be able to close out this match," head coach Jim Barnes said. "Our ladies played great tonight and to just not close it out at the end is tough. A team doesn't get too many chances to win matches like this and we just couldn't finish it off."

Five players for each team chalked up double figures in digs, led by Ashley Mass' 42 for ISU. Baylor libero Allison King had a career-high 32, while Taylor Barnes had 19, and Caitlyn Trice had a career-high 17. ISU's Kaylee Manns had 25, while Victoria Henson had 22 as part of her 20-20 match in which she had 24 kills.

"We had some girls really step up tonight and that was great to see," Barnes said. "Torri (Campbell) came out and played extremely well for us, as did Liz (Graham)."

For Baylor, Elizabeth Graham recorded double-digit kills for the second match in a row with 10, and three Bears had nine each, including Anna Breyfogle, Katie Sanders, and Ashlie Christenson. Barnes had 50 assists, to go along with her dig total of 19 for her seventh double-double of the year.

Both teams went toe-to-toe from the start as ISU could only muster a two-point lead 9-7 after a Baylor attack error in the first set. The Bears responded with six straight points on the strength of two Barnes' service aces and two Campbell kills. Iowa State closed to within two at 16-14, but Campbell spiked another kill off the floor to end the run. A solo block by Sanders made it 21-17, but the Cyclones clawed back to tie it at 24-24. A kill from Graham and a Cyclone error gave Baylor a 26-24 victory.

In the second set, Baylor roared to a 3-0 lead with kills by Graham and Sanders, then made it 8-4 with a kill from Ashlie Christenson forcing an ISU timeout. Baylor held the Cyclones at length, making it 14-10 with another Graham kill, but five in-a-row from ISU gave the Cyclones their first lead of the set with two kills by Henson. Baylor responded to take a lead as late as 21-20, but the Cyclones scored five consecutive points with four kills and an ace to win the set 25-21.

The third set was a teeter-totter at the beginning with Iowa State grabbing a 5-0 lead before Baylor answered with a run to take the lead back at 8-7. Three blocks during the stretch featured Graham all on three, once with Campbell, once with Sanders and once with Breyfogle. Baylor took a 13-10 lead with a kill from Sanders and two Cylcone errors, but ISU stormed back to grab a 21-17 lead with two kills from Rachel Hockaday. Baylor tried to mount a comeback getting within one at 24-23, but a Cyclone kill finished it off.

In the fourth set, it was Baylor taking the big early lead at 6-1, then 10-5 on the strength of three consecutive kills from Breyfogle. Once again, Iowa State had the answer, tying it at 10-10 with four Henson kills. The teams traded points until ISU took a 21-19 lead, but three in-a-row at the end by Baylor sealed the deal and forced a deciding fifth set. Sanders got a kill during the run and Campbell and Graham teamed up on a block to give Baylor at 25-23 victory.

Baylor controlled most of the fifth set, jumping out to a 5-3 lead with two kills from Campbell and one each by Christenson and Graham. Sanders made it 10-6 with a kill, then teamed up on a block with Campbell to make it 12-7. The Cyclones had the answer closing to 12-11 after three Baylor errors. Christenson gave the Bears their first of two match-points with a kill, but ISU scored four in a row with two costly Bear mistakes to take the set 16-14.

The Bears (18-5, 7-5 Big 12) will be back in action at the Ferrell Center on Saturday, Oct. 31, as they host the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The first serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.