Frogs fall in three at New Mexico
11/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 10, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The TCU Horned Frogs suffered a 3-0 (22-30, 27-30, 27-30) defeat at New Mexico Friday night in Albuquerque. In the loss, Anna Vaughn became the all-time career leader in service aces as she picked up three in the match. She now has 137 career aces, surpassing Tori Barlow's career mark of 136. The Frogs were paced offensively by Emily Allen and Lauren Otto's 10 kills apiece. Calli Corley had a match-high 16 digs.TCU faced a deficit the entire first set as New Mexico was able to string together long rallies. After the Lobos had jumped out to a 7-3 lead, the Frogs put together a 3-0 rally of their own with help from a Otto kill and an Vaughn ace to close within one.
TCU kept the match close until a 4-0 run by the Lobos helped them open up a five-point advantage, 17-12. The Frogs were unable to string together multiple points the rest of the way and the Lobos lead continued to grow. A late rally helped along by kills from Allen and Vaughn as well as Nirelle Hampton and Otto helped the Frogs gain some momentum despite falling 30-22.
The Frogs gained an early advantage in game two thanks to a solo block from Kourtney Edwards and an Allen kill. After the Frogs took a 5-4 lead, the Lobos went on an 8-2 run to gain a 13-9 lead. Another solo denial by Edwards ended the Lobo rally and spurred a 5-0 run by the Frogs. An Otto ace mixed in with kills by Allen and LeMeita Smith gave the Frogs a 14-13 advantage, forcing a New Mexico timeout.
Out of the timeout, New Mexico went on 6-1 run to open up a 19-15 advantage. TCU pulled within two, 19-17, on a kill by Smith, but another 4-0 run by the Lobos pushed the lead to six. The Frogs strung together four points to close within two late in the game, but a Jeanne Fairchild kill gave the Lobos the 30-27 game two win.
A tight affair greeted both teams in game three as the Frogs came out of the intermission with some fire. Despite falling into a 7-3 hole, the Frogs kept battling and got within one on a kill by Otto off a mad scramble to keep the ball alive by the Frog defense.
The Frogs eventually knotted the game at 14 on a kill by Allen, who served the Frogs to a 16-14 lead with help from a Lobo error and a service ace. New Mexico fought back to regain an 18-17 advantage, but Vaughn stuffed the rally with a loud kill off the block to tie the game. Edwards and Hampton teamed up to stuff a Lobo attack and Vaughn's recording-breaking ace gave the Frogs a 19-18 lead.
After gaining a 25-21 lead, the Lobos closed out the match on a 9-2 run to earn the 30-27 game three victory.
The Frogs fall to 17-13 on the season and 5-10 in Mountain West Conference action. They return to the court Thursday when they close out the regular season at Wyoming. Match time is slated for an 8 p.m. (CST) start.
