Baylor Volleyball Faces Louisville in Sweet 16

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ranked 17th and seeded fourth in the regional, Baylor volleyball is set to face Louisville in the Regional Semifinals – or “Sweet 16” – on Thursday at the KFC Yum! Center.

The Bears, the No. 15 overall seed, face Louisville, the No. 2 overall seed, for just the second time in program history.

Match time is slated for 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Nebraska-Oregon match that starts at 10 a.m. CT.

This is BU’s seventh-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, 11th overall and fourth-straight Regional Semifinal appearance.

The Bears (25-6) are one of just seven teams who have reached the Regional round in the past four years, joined by Florida, Louisville, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin.

BU is led by Mallory Talbert for attacking percentage (.399), while Lauren Harrison leads the team with 340 kills at 3.58 per set. Freshman Averi Carlson has dished out 1,232 assists at 10.81 assists/set, while Lauren Briseño leads the team in aces with 34 and digs with 381. Kara McGhee is Baylor’s leading blocker with 172 total at 1.51 blocks per set.

Carlson was named the AVCA’s Southwest Region Freshman of the Year on Tuesday, while McGhee was named first-team All-District by the organization. Carlson, Talbert and Harrison were each named Honorable Mention.

Louisville, the No. 1 seed in the regional bracket, is 28-2 on the year and is coming off wins over Samford and Purdue from the first and second rounds of the tournament, both sweeps. The Cardinals have swept each of their last five opponents.

Fans can watch the match on ESPNU or ESPN+ with Katie George and Eric Frede on the call. Live stats can be found at ncaa.com.

A full recap and final stats will be available on BaylorBears.com after the conclusion of the match.
To keep up to date with Baylor volleyball all year long, follow the Bears on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @BaylorVBall.

Top Quotes

Head Coach Ryan McGuyre

“I’m really proud of this team this year, where we started and where we’ve arrived. It’s been a different season than the past three or four. Really want to cherish the opportunity to be here in the regional. With this team it’s been about growth and humility and we’re just trying to extend it because I feel like we keep getting better each day as we move along. I thought maybe the expectations some people had on this program weren’t as high and to see what we’ve done with great leadership of a couple of our seniors with so many young freshmen – I’ve just been really proud of that. Here at Louisville, we’ve been treated well by the host school and the host family and we’re facing some storied programs that have been really successful the past few years as well. Looking forward to the test and the battle and again right now cherish the opportunity and just feel really proud of the team and what we’ve done so far.”

“Ultimately, we are not always caught up on the number of blocks that we have. Our block needs to have an impact on the match as far as changing what our opponents are doing. Kara (McGhee) has been on the forefront of not only doing that herself, but also teaching her teammates as well.”

“Probably go back to Wisconsin. I think when they are moving their big 6-8 girl around. They have pretty versatile outsides. It’s probably not one single team, but I would say similar athletes from different teams. We would defend this person maybe like the opposite from fill-in-the-blank. These middles hit a little bit more like these athletes a little bit.”

Freshman Setter Averi Carlson

“I would definitely say that our approach is the same for any game. We know that our opponents are really good in this round. We’re just ready to play Baylor volleyball.

“Yeah. We are traveling here in Louisville. It’s been kind fun just getting to travel and play. We’re just really excited.”

Senior Middle Blocker Kara McGhee

“Yeah, I think when you go there and taste it a little bit, making it to the semifinals my freshman year then coming down to my senior year, I think ‘man, I want to get past that point that I hit my freshman year.’ Yeah, I definitely think that’s motivating.”

“Blocking is key in any game. It is such a momentum changer, getting a good block. It’s key in any game. This team specifically because they are so dynamic all the way around and they also are a great blocking team. Just to be competitive in that aspect will be huge.”