Baylor volleyball heads to Fort Worth on Sunday with a shot at a statement win, and the Bears are carrying real momentum into the matchup with No. 10 TCU.
The Bears have won three straight and are aiming for their first victory over a ranked opponent since beating the 20th-ranked Horned Frogs in Fort Worth last November. Baylor also knows the recent history in this series has tilted its way: the Bears own a 25-11 edge all-time, including a 10-7 record in Fort Worth, and have taken three straight over TCU and 14 of the last 18 meetings. Baylor swept the season series a year ago, and it has finished ahead of TCU in the Big 12 standings every season since 2016.
"I’m really excited about it," head coach Ryan McGuyre said. "I love all of our matches with TCU.
We’ve had plenty of battles over the years. But this is the next game, which is what’s most important because it’s right in front of us.
I feel really good about our team. They have a lot of firepower, a lot of hitters.
I want to make sure our defense travels, we serve tough and block well. We’re really looking forward to the challenge, and we have a chance to get better this week, after getting better last week.
It’s going to be a fun match."
Baylor comes into the weekend with more than just confidence. The Bears picked up three of the Big 12’s four weekly awards, with Ksenia Rakhmanchik earning Offensive Player of the Week, Isabela Haggard being named Setter of the Week and Nadiya Johnson taking Rookie of the Week.
Haggard has been a central part of Baylor’s offense, sitting fourth in the Big 12 with 9.86 assists per set. The Marquette transfer said the matchup with TCU has already been plenty familiar to her, even in a short time in Waco.
"I hear about it all the time," she said. "I kind of love it.
I think that fires me up. I’m a competitor, so I always look to step up to the table when we’re competing in matches like these.
I’m just super excited to compete. Like Coach Mac said, it’s the next game, which makes it most important either way.
As long as we focus on our side of the net, then that’s all we can control. I’m super excited."
Rakhmanchik has been the Bears’ biggest weapon all season. She ranks among the Big 12 leaders and the nation’s top 10 in attacks per set (11.36), kills per set (4.75) and points per set (5.16). She has posted double-digit kills in 25 straight matches dating back to last season and has led Baylor in kills, attacks and points in 15 of 16 matches this year.
The game also comes with a personal twist. TCU head coach Jason Williams has led the Horned Frogs since 2022, but he spent seven seasons on McGuyre’s staff at Baylor. Williams is the uncle of Baylor setter Harley Greek and the father of former Bear standout Callie Williams, giving Sunday’s matchup an extra layer.
First serve is set for 2 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPN+.
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