TCU
Winthrop (Nike/Courtyard Marriott Invitational)
Horned Frogs fall in five to Winthrop
9/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 23, 2005
The TCU volleyball team fell to Winthrop (30-28, 20-30, 22-30, 30-28, 13-15), in the opening match of the Nike/Courtyard Marriott Invitational. Sophomore Talaya Whitfield led the Frogs with her second double-double of the season, turning in 22 digs and 15 kills.
Sophomore LeMeita Smith led the Frogs to the game one victory with five kills and added one block. Senior Erin Estep also played an integral role, blasting four kills of her own and blocking one and a half balls.
Big South Conference player of the year, Mary Hock, led the Eagles offensive attack with four kills, but the Frogs tallied six blocks to slam the door on game one, 30-28.
TCU moved to an early four-point advantage in game two that featured three-straight aces by junior Anna Vaughn. Winthrop battled back to take the lead, 22-17, before winning by 10. Taryn Surbaugh and Hock combined for nine kills and accounted for two and a half blocks.
Winthrop rode the energy from game two and duplicated its results in the third game to move to a 2-1 lead as the teams headed into the locker rooms.
The young Frogs remained tough and were able to take game four. Freshman Devon Kirk became a vital key in the offense and finished the match with seven kills. The Katy, Texas, product also turned in one and a half blocks.
With the match knotted at two, Winthrop turned to its three-time all-conference player, Hock, and she delivered to give her team the 3-2 victory.
Hock finished the match with 21 kills and 17 digs.
Smith tallied 11 kills in the match. Freshman Nirelle Hampton continues to impress as setter, finishing with 47 assists, seven kills and six assists.
The Frogs fell to 8-4 on the season with the loss. The team will play its final match of the tournament on Saturday afternoon at 1, versus Grambling State.
