TCU
New Mexico
Record-Setting Win Comes In Thrilling Style
11/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to score a 3-2 (19-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-11) victory over New Mexico Friday night to notch their school-record 24th victory of the season. Five Frogs tallied double-figures in kills, led by 14 from Christy Hudson. Lauren Otto pitched in with 12 kills in her final home match.Irene Hester racked up 13 kills and 11 digs to record her sixth double-double of the season. Kourtney Edwards picked up 11 kills and a team-high four blocks, while Kristen Hester dropped in 10 kills to go along with three aces. Megan Munce dished out 52 assists and served up a match-high four aces. Katelyn Blackwood finished with 15 digs.
A dismal start saw the Frogs fall into a 0-2 deficit as they mustered just 25 kills, while the Lobos were firing on all cylinders with 32 kills. The Lobos claimed the 2-0 match lead with back-to-back 25-19 victories.
Out of the 10 minute intermission, the Frogs were ready to go. Kristen Hester got the Frogs rolling with one of her four kills in the set and the Frogs would never trail. The Lobos battled hard, but the Frogs had an answer each time New Mexico would creep within a point. Kills from Munce, Edwards and Otto helped the Frogs build a 10-4 lead.
New Mexico fought back and got within one, 18-17, but a blast from Hudson on the right side restored the Frogs two-point lead. A block on the outside by Irene Hester and Kourtney Edwards made it a four-point lead and Kristen Hester gave the Frogs set point. She finished the set with a kill in the middle for the 25-20 win.
Another tight set awaited the Frogs in the fourth set as the teams battled through six ties and three lead changes. New Mexico jumped on top first before a furious rally by the Frogs with Irene Hester serving. Four straight attacking errors by the Lobos helped the Frogs grab an 8-7 lead.
A 3-0 run by New Mexico restored their lead, but the Frogs were able to stay close. Trailing 21-18, Irene Hester picked up one of her four kills in the set to spur a 5-0 run that turned the deficit into a lead. Otto came up with a big kill and Irene Hester teamed with Kristen Hester on a big block to put the Frogs up 23-21. Kristen Hester gave the Frogs set point and Christy Hudson sealed the 25-23 win with her fourth kill of the set.
Another battle ensued in a fifth set that saw seven ties and seven lead changes. Neither team could build much of a lead until the Frogs took control late in the set. New Mexico grabbed the early momentum in the set as they took a 7-5 lead on a kill by Taylor Hadfield. Edwards stopped the Lobo rally with a blast and an attack error by Hadfield tied the set at seven. Kristen Hester put the Frogs in front, 8-7 with her lone kill of the set.
New Mexico would rally with a 2-0 run, but the Frogs rallied with a 3-0 run that started on a kill by Irene Hester. A Munce service ace put the Frogs up 11-9. New Mexico sided out to pull back within one, but a service error gave TCU back its two-point lead. Back-to-back aces from Kristen Hester locked up the come-from-behind victory for the Frogs.
TCU improves to 24-6 on the season and finishes Mountain West Conference play with a 13-3 record. The Frogs will head to California for their final two regular season matches. TCU will square off against Long Beach State. Match time is slated for 2 p.m. (CST).
