TCU
Denver
VolleyFrogs Capture First Win of Season
9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM
Sept. 8, 2001
BOZEMAN, Mont. - It finally happened. The TCU VolleyFrogs (1-6) snagged their first win of the season Saturday afternoon versus Indiana State (3-4) in a tough five-game match. Using an upperclass rotation, the Frogs took a 3-2 win over the Sycamores in their first five-game match in the new rally scoring format.
The Frogs dropped a close first game 30-28, then rallied behind strong serving from senior Allison Lynch to put the Sycamores down 30-18 in the second game. With the match tied at one apiece, the Frogs took the lead in game three at 13-12 on a Lynch ace serve. Helped by solid serving from senior Marci King and junior Stephanie Watson as well as good defensive play, TCU refused to relinquish the lead, and won game three 30-25. In game four, the Frogs fell behind early on errors, then took a 13-10 lead on a block by King and Lynch. However, the Sycamores weren't about to let the game go without a fight and stormed back to win the game 30-25.
The fifth and deciding game found the Frogs ready to go as they blasted out to an 11-2 lead behind the serving of junior Jennifer Cuca. TCU again had solid defensive play when a block assist by senior Lindsay Hayes and freshman Shannon Brown led to a 14-4 TCU lead. Sophomore Tori Barlow entered the game to serve the match point and Brown had her seventh kill of the match to finish off the Sycamores.
"Before the Indiana State game, we just tried to relax and remember the fun stuff about volleyball," according to head coach Sandy Troudt. "I was really proud of Allison Lynch's play tonight. She's just learning the back row and she had a double-double tonight (18 kills, 11 digs). Stephanie Watson and Jennifer Cuca came in and played a solid left side for us. The monkey is off our back now."
The Frogs had four players achieve double-doubles against ISU including King who with her 12 kills and 16 digs tied the school record for career double-doubles with 42 (held by Jill Pape, 1996-99). Lynch scored her first double-double, Cuca had her fifth career double-double (14 kills, 10 digs), and Watson had her third career double-double (15 kills, 11 digs).
TCU was led against ISU in kills by Lynch (18), in assists by Hayes (37), in digs by King (16), in blocks by Lynch (8), and three players (King, Lynch and Cuca) each had two aces for the match.
In their first match of the day, against the Pioneers of Denver, the Frogs ended up on the short end of the stick once again, as they dropped the match 3-0 (30-24, 30-26, 30-27). They were led by King and Lynch in kills (10), Hayes with 26 assists, Cuca with 13 digs, and Lynch and Hayes with five blocks apiece.
TCU returns home to host Akron, Alabama and Arkansas-Little Rock in the 6th annual TCU Invitational September 14-15 at the Rickel Center on the TCU campus. The first match begins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday between Arkansas-Little Rock and Akron. TCU will take the court for their first home match at 7:00 p.m. versus Alabama.
