TCU volleyball wins record 10th in a row to start the season

The TCU volleyball team continued its winning ways Tuesday night, beating Baylor in straight sets before a crowd of 1,477 fans at the University Recreation Center.

The win ran the Frogs’ undefeated record to 10-0, the best start in school history. The loss dropped the Bears to 8-3.

Seniors Kristen Hester led with 13 kills, while junior Sarah Joeckel paced the Frogs with a team high of 29 digs.

TCU had little trouble with the Bears early on, winning the first set 25-19 and taking the second set 25-20. The Frogs never trailed in those two sets.

Baylor would respond, though, getting out to an early lead in the third set. The Bears even led 19-14 at one point, threatening to send the game into a fourth set.

But the Frogs wouldn’t let it happen.

After battling back into the set, TCU evened the score at 24-24 and needed just two points to secure the win. Hester spiked the next Baylor volley for the 25th point. The Bears couldn’t return the next serve, knocking it into the stands and handing the Frogs their 10th straight victory.

Hester said even though TCU was trailing late in the third set, they knew if they worked hard enough they could come back.

“We have peaks and valleys,” Hester said. “We definitely went very down there for a little bit but we know as hard as we play we could pull it out.”

Head coach Prentice Lewis said her team’s confidence is a big reason why they’ve had so much early success.

“This is a very moxie group,” Lewis said. “They decided we’re going to win and we’re going to play as hard as we can.”

Of course, being injury-free is always nice, too, Lewis said.

“Everybody’s healthy,” Lewis said. “That usually makes it much easier.”

Hester said last year’s rough ending has motivated this year’s squad to play up to their potential.

“We just want it so bad,” Hester said. “Especially how last year ended we’re just so hungry to be good. I couldn’t be more excited about starting off this way.”

The Frogs will be back in action this Friday when they head to East Orange, N.J. for the Seton Hall Invitational.

TCU is scheduled to play Boston College at noon and The New Jersey Institute of Technology at 3:00 p.m. on Friday before taking on the host school Seton Hall at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

 

TCU (10-0)   3
Baylor (8-3) 0

Kristen Hester: 13 kills, 6 digs
Sarah Joeckel: 29 digs