No. 20 Baylor volleyball is heading back on the road this week for a three-match run at the Ameritas Challenge in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the schedule does not give the Bears much breathing room.
Baylor opens Thursday at 4 p.m. CT against RV Georgia Tech, then gets a major spotlight Friday night with a showdown against No.
1 Nebraska at 7 p.m. The weekend wraps Saturday at 11 a.m. against New Mexico at Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The Bears enter at 4-1 and will be meeting Georgia Tech for only the second time. Baylor’s first clash with the Yellow Jackets came in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament, when the Bears swept Georgia Tech on the way to the program’s first Sweet 16.
Friday brings the biggest test of the trip. Baylor is still chasing its first win over Nebraska in program history, and the Bears also have a shot at their first victory against a No. 1 team since Nov. 6, 2021, when they knocked off top-ranked Texas in Waco.
That 2021 upset was Baylor’s second win over a No. 1 team under Ryan McGuyre, who also led the Bears past top-ranked Texas in 2019. A win Friday would be Baylor’s first road victory over a No. 1 team.
Freshman Mya Hemmer said the chance to take on the nation’s top-ranked team is one the Bears are eager to embrace.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Hemmer said. "This is such a crazy experience being ranked No. 20 and having this opportunity to play the number one ranked team in the country. That's super exciting and I'm excited to see how we'll compete."
McGuyre said the team is still pushing to respond after its first loss of the season and sees the road trip as another chance to get back in rhythm.
"Yeah, looking forward to another road trip with the team," McGuyre said. "I think we're a little disappointed in the results from last match.
I think you wanna get back on the court as soon as possible and put it together. We worked on some really good things this week.
Georgia Tech's a great team, and that's what we're focused on."
Saturday’s opponent carries its own Baylor connection. New Mexico is coached by Brian Hosfeld, who spent eight seasons in Waco from 1996-03 and finished with a 129-133 record. Hosfeld also guided Baylor to its first NCAA Tournament appearance and first NCAA Tournament win in 1999.
The Lobos own a 4-2 edge in the all-time series, though Baylor has taken the last two meetings. The most recent matchup came in September 2009.
Baylor is coming off its first defeat of the year, a loss to No. 17 Florida last Saturday at the Ferrell Center.
Ksenia Rakhmanchik leads the Bears with 75 kills and has reached double figures in every match this season. Morgan Madison has 72 digs to pace the defense, Isabela Haggard has 128 assists, and Victoria Davis leads the team with 21 total blocks.
Live stats will be available for all three matches at BaylorBears.com/Stats, and Friday’s meeting with Nebraska will air on the Big Ten Network.
In Other News...
Baylor Just Gave Fans Another Reason To Get To McLane Early
Baylor fans heading to McLane Stadium this fall will find a more built-out pregame scene waiting for them long before kickoff. Baylor Athletics announced an enhanced Touchdown Alley experience for home football games, adding more entertainment, activities and food options to the lead-in before games as the Bears continue trying to make the stadium atmosphere part of the draw.
The area will open three hours before kickoff and include performances, fan activities, food trucks and designated spaces like a Kids Zone and Cooling Zone. There will also be giveaways, sponsor activations and a separate tailgate for Baylor Club members, giving early arrivals a little more to do while they wait for the action on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Loss Still Revealed A Reason For Real Optimism
Baylors narrow loss to Auburn still offered a useful snapshot of where the Bears may be headed under the right kind of defensive pressure. Even in defeat, the defense looked far more disruptive than it had at times earlier in the season, getting into the backfield and forcing Auburn to work for everything while the offense endured a mixed afternoon that included solid pass protection but little room on the ground.
The more encouraging part for Baylor is that this came with Jacob Redding sidelined for the season, yet the secondary still found ways to make plays. Reggie Bush II and Micah Gifford stepped into bigger moments with interceptions, and with a manageable stretch of games ahead, the Bears have a path to turn this kind of performance into something more lasting if the defense keeps traveling in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Tennis Just Made A Hire That Could Shape Its Next Step
Baylor mens tennis has added Tripp Tuff to its staff as an assistant coach, a move announced by head coach Michael Woodson as the program continues building under his direction. Tuff brings a varied background to Waco, including time as an assistant coach with Northwesterns womens program and a previous stint as head coach at Hofstra.
His path to Baylor is also an unusual one for a college tennis coach. Tuff played at DePaul and earned degrees in neuroscience and public health, a blend of academics and experience that should give Woodson another well-rounded voice in the program as the Bears look to keep moving forward. [Read more 🡒]