Record Setting Blocking Day Leads to TCU Victory

Tuesday, September 14

Fort Worth, Texas

7 PM

TCU

6-3,0-0Big 12

Incarnate Word

5-5,0-0Southland

UIW

TCU

Record Setting Blocking Day Leads to TCU Victory

9/14/2021 11:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score TCU vs UIW Box Score

TCU Records Most Blocks/Set in Program History, Defeats UIW

FORT WORTH – Redshirt sophomore Madilyn Cole led the way as TCU recorded 22.0 blocks, the most-ever in a four-set match and the most blocks/set in program history, in a 3-1 victory (25-12, 25-19, 23-25, 25-15) over Incarnate Word Tuesday night in Schollmaier Arena. The Horned Frogs' 22.0 blocks tonight are the most in a single match by any team in Division 1 this season as TCU improves its home record to 6-1.

"I want to thank our fans for coming out, the students were great tonight," head coach Jill Kramer said. "That was our largest crowd of the year and we're super appreciative to the student section for sticking around with us. We wanted to get back out onto the court and compete. I thought we had a good bounce back match. Parts of the game were very clean and some parts need to be better but numbers wise, we had a great blocking performance. Taylor [Raiola] did a great job for us, MyKayla [Myers] was great on both sides of the ball, Kenz [McKenzie Nichols] didn't even practice for us yesterday because she was a little under the weather, for her to come in and lead the team the way she did was great to see. Bella [Swafford] was great serving and passing and then, at the end, Audrey [Nalls] came in on the right side and did a great job shutting down the net. In the end, midweek match for us to get up for but the team handled it well. They came in confident and stuck with the plan. It wasn't as clean as we would have liked for the whole time, but they grinded it out, stayed solid at the service line and at the net."

TCU NOTABLES:

TCU set a program record for the most block/set in program history tonight. Tallying 22 blocks in four sets (5.5 blocks/set).
It is the most blocks in a match by any team in Division 1 volleyball this season.
The most blocks in a four-set match in TCU's 26-year history
The most blocks in a four-set match in NCAA Division 1 volleyball since Nov. 26, 2019 (St. Mary's)
With the result tonight, TCU regains the top spot in the Big 12 Conference, leading the league with 3.30 blocks/set just .01 blocks/set shy of the No. 1 blocking defense in the nation.
Madilyn Cole tied a program record with 12.0 blocks – one of four Horned Frogs to achieve 12 blocks in a single match.
MyKayla Myers set a career high with 10 blocks, marking the second time in program history TCU had two blockers record double-digit blocks.
Myers recorded her first-career double double, finishing with 13 kills to go along with her 10 rejections.
She reached 13 kills on 17 swings (.765 hitting %). It was the most kills she has ever recorded without committing an error, out-performing her previous best of 11 kills, set two weeks ago vs. UTRGV.
McKenzie Nichols set a career-best with nine blocks. She finished the match with 30 assists, nine blocks and seven digs.
Taylor Raiola matched her career high with 14 kills.
It was her fourth 10+ kill match of the 2021 season, matching her total output from last year.
Bella Swafford and Cecily Bramschreiber led the defense in digs, finishing with nine each.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set 1 (TCU, 25-12): TCU took the court with plenty of energy as Julia Adams got the ball rolling with a kill and a block with Cole to help the Frogs go in front, 3-0. UIW tied the match, 5-5, before a 7-0 run on Swafford's serve pushed TCU in front, 14-6. UIW never got the set within six points from then on as TCU flexed its muscles in a dominant performance. Raiola was magnificent, making kills in all six rotations and leading the offense with five kills on six swings (.833 hitting). Cole led the blocking efforts with two as TCU held UIW to .000 hitting.

Set 2 (TCU, 25-19): The Cardinals managed an 8-6 advantage to start the second, before the Horned Frogs roared back with an 11-0 scoring run off Raiola's serving. Myers was the catalyst in the run, tallying three blocks and a kill as the TCU defense forced UIW into a string of errors. By the end of the run, TCU led 17-8 and would nurse that lead to a six-point set victory. Myers finished with three kills and four blocks to lead the Frogs. Adams added in four kills and a block as TCU claimed a two-set advantage.

Set 3 (UIW, 25-23): The offense took a step back in the third set as the UIW defense and serving forced the Frogs out of system. UIW's largest lead of the set came late, 21-17 as TCU's efforts came up just short. Myers made four kills on four swings but the Cardinals managed to force a fourth set.

Set 4 (TCU, 25-15): The Horned Frogs had no intention of allowing a fifth set as Audrey Nalls entered the match on the right side, bolstering TCU's blocking efforts to the tune of nine blocks in the final set. Five of TCU's final eight points came from blocks as the Horned Frogs dominated the net. Cole made six blocks, including four of the final eight TCU points, as the Horned Frogs managed to win more points from blocks (nine) than kills (eight) to ice the match.

UP NEXT:
The Horned Frogs take on cross-town rival SMU on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 18) in Schollmaier Arena. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Tickets are available at gofrogs.com

For more information on TCU Volleyball visit GoFrogs.com and follow @TCUVolleyball on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.