MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The 15th-ranked Baylor volleyball team couldn’t overcome No. 7 Minnesota on Saturday night in the last match of the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge at Maturi Pavilion.
BU (0-2) fell to UM (2-0) after keeping close in the first two sets, 25-20, 25-21, 25-11.
The Bears were led by Kyndal Stowers for the second match in a row, this time recording 10 kills on the Gophers en route to being named All-Tournament Team.
THE RUNDOWN
Set 1
The Bears started off hot with a slicing kill from Alicia Andrew. Teaming up for the block on the next play were Manuela Bibinbe and Stowers, followed by an ace from Lauren Briseño. The Gophers caught up and tied it, but the Bears kept chipping away. Averi Carlson dumped it over the net to unsuspecting UM to tie it at six-all. Elise McGhee helped in the effort, making it 7-7, but the next BU kill would be at 13-10, UM in the lead, from Andrew. Bibinbe got a kill to continue closing the gap at 14-11, then Stowers and McGhee got kills leading up to a Bibinbe ace. A big block from Andrew and McGhee brought the gap to two, but Minnesota pulled just ahead again to 20-16. Stowers pulled her weight to catch the Bears up, scoring three-straight kills, but Minnesota finished the set with an ace.
Set 2
The Gophers got the first point but then had a bad serve and an attack error to put BU up. McGhee then served up an ace to have BU ahead 3-1. The two teams traded points but after Sczech got a kill to make it 6-6, the Gophers went on a tear, despite McGhee getting two kills in the middle of it. Going into the media timeout it was 15-11 Gophers. Out of it, Stowers got a kill, then served up back-to-back aces to bring Baylor back within one, 15-14. UM kept pushing and BU kept clawing, Briseño serving up an ace at 21-19. Sczech got a kill to bring the Bears within two, 22-20, and coach McGuyre called time at match point, 24-20. Stowers knocked down a kill but Mckenna Wucherer got one of her own to close the set, 25-21.
Set 3
BU had a slow start in the third, with the Gophers going up 5-0 to start. Stowers stopped the run with a kill, but the next shot from Andrew was blocked. Andrew returned the favor on the next two points, teaming up with Sczech and then Carlson to deliver back-to-back stops, now 6-3. BU called time down by three (9-3) and once again it proved successful with Stowers getting a kill, then Andrew and Carlson teaming up for a block. Andrews made it 11-6 but the Bears were getting blocked. McGhee got revenge and slammed a kill before Bibinbe followed suit at 13-8. Bibinbe served up an ace at 15-10 to continue to shorten the leash, and UM’s Elise McGhie had a service error to give the Bears another point, but that’d be the last for the Green & Gold on the set. Between four kills, two BU attack errors and a block, Minnesota finished the set and match at 25-11.
HIGHLIGHTS
BU (0-2) fell to UM (2-0) after keeping close in the first two sets, 25-20, 25-21, 25-11.
The Bears were led by Kyndal Stowers for the second match in a row, this time recording 10 kills on the Gophers en route to being named All-Tournament Team.
THE RUNDOWN
Set 1
The Bears started off hot with a slicing kill from Alicia Andrew. Teaming up for the block on the next play were Manuela Bibinbe and Stowers, followed by an ace from Lauren Briseño. The Gophers caught up and tied it, but the Bears kept chipping away. Averi Carlson dumped it over the net to unsuspecting UM to tie it at six-all. Elise McGhee helped in the effort, making it 7-7, but the next BU kill would be at 13-10, UM in the lead, from Andrew. Bibinbe got a kill to continue closing the gap at 14-11, then Stowers and McGhee got kills leading up to a Bibinbe ace. A big block from Andrew and McGhee brought the gap to two, but Minnesota pulled just ahead again to 20-16. Stowers pulled her weight to catch the Bears up, scoring three-straight kills, but Minnesota finished the set with an ace.
Set 2
The Gophers got the first point but then had a bad serve and an attack error to put BU up. McGhee then served up an ace to have BU ahead 3-1. The two teams traded points but after Sczech got a kill to make it 6-6, the Gophers went on a tear, despite McGhee getting two kills in the middle of it. Going into the media timeout it was 15-11 Gophers. Out of it, Stowers got a kill, then served up back-to-back aces to bring Baylor back within one, 15-14. UM kept pushing and BU kept clawing, Briseño serving up an ace at 21-19. Sczech got a kill to bring the Bears within two, 22-20, and coach McGuyre called time at match point, 24-20. Stowers knocked down a kill but Mckenna Wucherer got one of her own to close the set, 25-21.
Set 3
BU had a slow start in the third, with the Gophers going up 5-0 to start. Stowers stopped the run with a kill, but the next shot from Andrew was blocked. Andrew returned the favor on the next two points, teaming up with Sczech and then Carlson to deliver back-to-back stops, now 6-3. BU called time down by three (9-3) and once again it proved successful with Stowers getting a kill, then Andrew and Carlson teaming up for a block. Andrews made it 11-6 but the Bears were getting blocked. McGhee got revenge and slammed a kill before Bibinbe followed suit at 13-8. Bibinbe served up an ace at 15-10 to continue to shorten the leash, and UM’s Elise McGhie had a service error to give the Bears another point, but that’d be the last for the Green & Gold on the set. Between four kills, two BU attack errors and a block, Minnesota finished the set and match at 25-11.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Kyndal Stowers had double-digit kills with 10
- Averi Carlson led in assists (22) and digs (7)
- Stowers named All-Tournament Team after recording 24 kills over the two matches
All-Tournament Team
Kyndal Stowers, OH, Baylor
Mckenna Wucherer, OH, MN
Melani Shaffmaster, S, MN
Phoebe Awoleye, MB, MN
Kylie Murr, L, MN
Melanie Parra, OH, TCU
Devyn Robinson, RS, Wisconsin
Carter Booth, MB, Wisconsin
UP NEXT
The Bears start the home slate at Ferrell on Sept. 1 when they face Rice, currently ranked No. 23 in the Preseason AVCA/Teraflex Coaches Poll. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ and first serve is set for 7 p.m. at Ferrell.
To stay up to date all year long on all things Baylor volleyball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @BaylorVBall.
– BaylorBears.com –
