Volleyball team loses, ending 13-game winning streak

Not even a record crowd of 2,643 was enough to help the TCU volleyball team.

Fans filed into the University Recreation Center Tuesday night to watch the 13-0 Frogs get swept 3-0 by eighth-ranked Texas. It was TCU’s first loss of the season, dropping them to 13-1. The win improved Texas to 6-3.

Texas got out to a quick 5-1 lead early on and never looked back, finishing off the Frogs and leading the whole way en route to a 25-16 first set win.

TCU would not fade easily though.

The Frogs bounced back quickly, getting out to a 4-1 lead early in the second set. But Texas was too much to handle again. The Longhorns tied up the set, took the lead and never gave it back as they cruised to 25-15 victory heading into the intermission.

Texas would carry that momentum into the third set, cruising past the Frogs 25-19 and finishing off the straight set victory.

The Longhorns got big performances from freshman Khat Bell and senior Rachael Adams. The 6-foot-1-inch Bell notched 10 kills while the even taller 6-foot-2-inch Adams led Texas with 11 kills.

Senior Kristen Hester led TCU with nine kills and .333 attack percentage. Junior Megan Munce chipped in a team-high 22 assists while fellow junior Sarah Joeckel added 10 digs.

Overall, the Longhorn lineup featured nine players 6 feet tall or taller. Senior Kristen Hester said Texas’ size frustrated the Frogs all night.

“We knew they were going to be bigger than us,” Hester said. “We let it frustrate us, and we didn’t play defense so that’s why we lost tonight.”

Head coach Prentice Lewis said Texas’ size did not surprise her team.

Under the net—not above the net—is where TCU struggled the most, Lewis said.

“Texas didn’t do anything we didn’t know they could do as far as hitting and being aggressive,” Lewis said. “We just played a horrible game below the net. That was the only thing to help us win, and we didn’t do it.”

Hester said the loss to the Longhorns showed TCU that being undefeated does not mean much.

“It shows us that, yeah, we were 13-0, but that really didn’t mean anything,” Hester said.

“It shows us we have a lot to work on.”

Lewis agreed.

“We told them before that Texas doesn’t give a darn about [being undefeated],” Lewis said. “Nobody cares if any team is 13-0. Ever.”

Hester said she and her teammates have to block out Tuesday night’s loss and get ready for the next game.

“We just have to forget about this game and get ready for the next one Friday,” Hester said.

The Frogs will be back in action this Friday when they travel to Albuquerque to begin Mountain West play against New Mexico. First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m.Score:

 

Texas: 3
TCU:   0

Kristen Hester (TCU) — 9 kills, .333 attack percentage
Megan Munce (TCU) — 22 assists