TCU Stages Block Party in Raleigh, Downs Western Carolina in Four Sets

Thursday, September 8

Raleigh, N.C.

3 PM

TCU

2-4,0-0Big 12

Western Carolina

5-4,0-0SoCon

TCU

Western Caro.

TCU Stages Block Party in Raleigh, Downs Western Carolina in Four Sets

9/8/2022 7:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Horned Frogs return to court to face Indiana and NC State on Friday

RALEIGH – For the second time in three weeks, TCU ventured to the Carolinas in search of a victory over a quality mid-major opponent.

And for the second straight time, the Horned Frogs accomplished the mission in full.

TCU downed Western Carolina in four sets in scores of 23-25, 25-16, 25-17 and 25-22 on Thursday inside James T. Valvano Arena to commence the NC State Classic.

The Horned Frogs boosted their record to 2-4 with the victory over the Catamounts, which entered the contest riding a five-match winning streak and in possession of a win over a Power Five conference foe.

TCU registered a season-high 13 blocks to pair with season-bests in kills (62) and hitting percentage (.307). It marked the first time this fall the Horned Frogs averaged more than three blocks per set, eclipsed 60 kills and hit over .300.

It proved to be the most aggressive, efficient offensive effort for TCU three weeks into the 2022 campaign. The second set saw the Horned Frogs close on a 10-3 run to even the scoreboard at one set apiece. From there, TCU steadily ratcheted up its hitting percentage. The team connected at a .310 clip in set three, then closed the show behind a .364 mark in the fourth-and-final frame.

Seniors Julia Adams, Audrey Nalls and MyKayla Myers accounted for two-thirds of the Horned Frogs' offensive output according to the unofficial box score. Adams racked up a match-high 18 kills – 10 of which came in the second half of the match – to lead TCU in kills for the fourth time this fall. The 6-3 outside hitter also posted a season-high 22.5 points. Nalls matched her season-high in kills with 13. Myers was credited with 10 kills on 13 swings for a mind-boggling .769 hitting percentage, though the majority of her season-high 10.5 points likely came via blocks.

Fellow middle blocker Sarah Sylvester was every bit as efficient as Myers. The freshman earned her second straight start and further solidified her spot in the Horned Frogs' front row. Sylvester, 6-3, tallied a season-high eight kills on .455 hitting while peppering in her share of blocks throughout the afternoon.

Sylvester was not the only newcomer to maximize an opportunity in the starting lineup. Playing without three starters, TCU inserted defensive specialist and Texas A&M transfer Sabrina Sustala into the rotation. The Cypress, Texas native responded to the extended look by reaching double figures in digs for the first time in purple and white and leading all players in the category with 11.

Rounding out the list of individual performers was Callie Williams, who dished out a match-high 36 assists.

TCU led wire-to-wire in the first set to the tune of a 23-20 tie but was undone by a 5-0 run that featured errors on four of the five plays.

But a clear, decisive momentum shift soon transpired in set two. Three straight blocks – two from Sylvester and one via Adams – staked the Horned Frogs to an early 5-2 lead. TCU then maintained its three-point edge at 10-7 and 13-10. Adams and Nalls in turn ignited a 9-4 run. The tandem bookended kills around an attack error to increase TCU's advantage to 16-12. Adams then laced home consecutive kills to boost the lead to 18-13. Myers took it from there, as she accounted for four of the Horned Frogs' final five points.

Myers and Nalls were credited with 11 of TCU's kills in the frame.

TCU took care to eradicate any prospect of Catamounts assuming a 2-1 lead early on. The Horned Frogs transformed a 6-3 hole into an 8-6 lead via a 5-0 spurt that was fueled by a trio of service aces from Adams. Nall's 10^th kill of the contest extended TCU's lead to 13-10. The margin soon swelled to 17-11 following another block from Myers and consecutive kills from Adams and Sylvester. The Horned Frogs then took their largest lead in any frame at 21-13 following Adams and Nalls' 11^th kills of the match to facilitate a smooth sail to set point.

The teams played to an 18-18 gridlock in set four before TCU put its foot down. The Horned Frogs took their first lead in the set since a 3-2 start on the following play off a service ace from Williams, 5-8, who then stuffed a Catamount spike on an extended rally on the following play to ignite a 4-0 spurt. Adams then closed the show in short order with kills on TCU's final three scoring plays.

The Horned Frogs complete their stay in Raleigh on Friday with a twin bill vs. Indiana and NC State. TCU draws the Hoosiers at 10 a.m. CT before returning to the court at 6 p.m. CT to face the Wolf Pack. The match vs. NC State will air on the ACC Network on ESPN+.