TCU
Texas-Arlington
TCU Ekes Out Close Victory to Remain Undefeated
9/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU Horned Frogs had to fight hard on Wednesday night to keep their perfect record intact as they escaped with a 3-2 (16-25, 25-11, 25-16, 24-26, 15-9) victory over UT-Arlington at Texas Hall. An impressive offensive effort by the Frogs helped lead them to victory. Sarah Joeckel had a monster game with a career-high 15 kills. Lauren Otto led all hitters with 16 kills in the match. Along the way, Nirelle Hampton set the school career record, notching her 142nd career ace.The first set was a tail of two different teams. The Mavericks were firing on all cylinders, while the Frogs committed numerous costly errors. TCU kept the set close as the score worked itself out to 11-10, UTA, but a kill from Emily Shearin spurred a 4-0 run that opened the set up. Nirelle Hampton briefly interrupted the rally, but a Maverick kill and three straight hitting errors by the Frogs put the Mavericks firmly in control and they went on to take the set, 25-16.
Game two was a total reversal as the Horned Frogs dominated from the word go, while UTA's mistakes mounted. Sarah Joeckel took over as she pounded out eight kills to lead the Frogs, who notched 17 total kills ain the set. After the team's battled it out to a 4-all tie, a hitting error by the Mavericks put the Frogs in front, where they would remain for the remainder of the game. Lauren Otto gave TCU a two-point advantage and Joeckel stretched it to three with a blast on the outside, 7-4.
Back-to-back kills from Joeckel forced a Maverick timeout, but it wouldn't slow the Frog attack. Kirk, Hudson and Otto spurred a 3-0 run that pushed the lead out to 12-7. Another 3-0 run that was highlighted by a loud denial on the outside by the team of Kirk and Hudson gave TCU a 15-8 lead.
Following a service error by the Mavericks, Otto served the Frogs to set point. Joeckel pushed the Frogs to set point with four kills in a five point swing, then sealed the 25-11 victory with her eighth of the set.
TCU picked right up where they left off in game two as they stormed out to a big lead in the third set. Edwards and Hudson teamed up to deny a Maverick attempt to spur the Frogs. Back-to-back kills from Edwards and another blast from Otto made it a 6-1 lead. A long rally went the way of the Horned Frogs when Kirk and Hampton blocked a Maverick attempt in the middle to push the lead to 9-4.
A historical momentum for TCU volleyball came with Hampton at the service line. Her first ace of the night hit the tape of the net and dropped straight down, marking her 142nd career ace and establishing a new school record.
The Frogs continued to roll en route to take a 2-1 match lead. Hudson gave the Frogs set point and an attack error by the Mavericks gave the Frogs the 25-16 win.
Again, the Frogs jumped out to a big lead in game four as they took a 7-4 lead, helped along by three kills from Edwards. Hudson made it a 10-8 game, but the Mavericks would answer as they went on a 5-0 run to regain the lead.
TCU weathered the storm and kept the set close. A block by Kirk and Hudson tied the set at 18 and spurred a 4-0 rally. Hudson pitched in with two kills and Otto tallied one to give the Frogs a 21-18 lead. But the Mavericks had fight left as they battled back to tie the game at 24. Back-to-back kills from Driscoll forced a fifth set as the Mavs took the set by a score of 26-24.
The Mavericks controlled the fifth set early, taking a 5-3 lead and forcing the Frogs to call a timeout. Out of the break, the Frogs caught fire as they scored four straight points on two kills from Joeckel and a denial on the outside by Hampton and Kirk to take a 7-5 lead and force a Maverick timeout.
Blackwood kept serving tough out of the timeout and pushed the Frogs to a 9-5 lead. A brief Maverick rally went by the wayside as Kirk silenced them with a kill to the back of the court for a 10-7 lead. She then teamed with Hudson for a block and Joeckel put the Frogs up five, 12-7. After Hudson and Kirk gave the Frogs match point, Otto sealed the Frogs win with a cross court kill for a 15-9 win.
TCU (7-0) remains undefeated with the victory. The Frogs remain on the road as they head to Lubbock, Texas to take part in the Red Raider Round Up. TCU opens play in the tourney against New Orleans on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
