WACO – Hannah Baker set a school record or single-match digs, but the Sam Houston Bearkats dropped a pair of matches to No. 14 Baylor and Tulsa on Friday, the final day of the Baylor Classic at the Ferrell Center.
Despite the losses, Baker's exploits still stood out. The sophomore libero averaged 6.38 digs per set for the weekend and was named to the all-tournament team, and made waves against Tulsa when she totaled 50 digs against the Golden Hurricane.
The 50 digs set a new SHSU single-match record, surpassing the mark of 44 that she had tied vs Tulsa a year ago. The 50 digs are the most by any player in the NCAA this season and makes her the first player in the nation since 2015 to reach 50 digs in a single match.
The Kats will open up WAC play and close out an 11-match road trip on Thursday at Abilene Christian before hosting rival Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at Johnson Coliseum.
MATCH 1
No. 14 Baylor 3, Sam Houston 0
The Kats were right there throughout Set 1 and even held a 20-18 lead after consecutive kills from Dyer that forced a Baylor timeout. But the Bears regrouped after the break and reeled off six straight points to get to set point before eventually closing it out on their third try.
Baylor had no trouble with dispatching the Kats with a 25-11 win in Set 2, but Set 3 was another story as once again SHSU held a late lead at 21-17 on a kill from Dyer; however, Baylor's Mallory Talbert responded with a score of her own that sparked an 8-0 Bear run that ran to the end of the match.
Krieger led the Kats with 10 kills, while
Analise Lucio added 13 assists and
Hannah Baker had 12 digs.
Kara McGhee led all players with 13 kills for Baylor
MATCH 2
Tulsa 3, Sam Houston 2
The Kats went toe-to-toe with the Golden Hurricane, but ultimately could not outlast Tulsa in the fifth set.
The teams traded each of the first four frames before TU hit .356 in the finale, not misfiring once on 28 tries to close out the match.
Baker's exploits on the back row stood out, but offensively it was
Madison Dyer who took center stage, finishing with 20 digs and only one error on 39 swings.
The Kats also got a trio of double-doubles, including both setters –
Avery Fowler (30 assists, 15 digs) and
Analise Lucio (22 assists, 12 digs) – and
Alyssa Fielder (14 kills, 15 digs).
