Baylor volleyball heads to Lubbock on Thursday night with one clear mission: respond after a four-set loss to No. 24 Colorado.
The Bears will take on Texas Tech at 6 p.m. CT, trying to get back on track in Big 12 play.
The matchup comes with plenty of history behind it, and most of it has gone Baylor’s way lately. The Bears have won 37 of the last 41 meetings against the Red Raiders, flipping a series that once belonged to Texas Tech, which took 37 of the first 40. Under Ryan McGuyre, Baylor is 74-35 against in-state opponents and has gone 17-2 against Texas Tech.
Baylor’s offense continues to run through Isabela Haggard, who ranks among the Big 12’s top five in assists per set at 9.38. Her work setting the table has helped Baylor post a .299 hitting percentage in conference matches, good for second in the league.
Ksenia Rakhmanchik has been just as central to the attack. She enters the weekend among the Big 12 leaders and the nation’s top 10 in attacks per set (11.27), kills per set (4.65) and points per set (5.08).
Her consistency has been a major driver for the Bears, and she has reached double-digit kills in 23 straight matches dating back to last season. This year, she has led Baylor in kills, attacks and points in 13 of 14 matches.
On the back line, Morgan Madison has anchored the defense with 3.74 digs per set, which ranks fourth in the Big 12. Baylor will need that steady presence as it tries to slow Texas Tech in its own gym.
The Bears enter the week at 9-5 overall and 1-3 in conference play. It’s only the third time in the Ryan McGuyre era that Baylor has opened Big 12 action 1-3, and the Bears are looking to avoid their first 1-4 start in league play since 2014.
Both matches this week will be shown on ESPN+, and stats will be available throughout the season at BaylorBears.com/Stats.
In Other News...
Baylor WBB Is Bringing Former Bears Back For A Special Weekend
Baylor womens basketball is setting aside a November weekend to reconnect with its past, inviting former Bears back to Waco for an Alumni Weekend on Nov. 14 and 15. The two-day event will include time with the coaching staff, a chance to watch practice, facility tours and a dinner, giving former players a built-in reunion around the current program.
The weekend will also fold into game action, with alumni set to be recognized during the home game against East Texas A&M before a postgame celebration wraps things up. Registration is already open, and Baylor has also begun taking season-ticket purchases for the 2026-27 season, with single-game tickets to go on sale later. [Read more 🡒]
Tyquan Thornton's Breakout Just Turned Into A Baylor Fan Gut Punch
Baylors NFL alumni had a busy stretch of game action, and the news around Tyquan Thornton overshadowed much of it. The former Bears receiver, who had started building momentum at the pro level, suffered a dislocated left ankle that is expected to require surgery and a recovery window of 12 to 16 weeks. For Baylor fans keeping tabs on their guys across Sundays, it was the kind of update that stops everything cold, especially with the injury threatening to wipe out a good chunk of the season.
There was still some positive movement elsewhere on the ledger. Jalen Pitre and Terrel Bernard both turned in active defensive outings with multiple tackles and plays that showed up on the stat sheet, while Josh Cameron chipped in as a receiver and on special teams. On the defensive line side, Lynch was inactive for his latest game, but his path could open a bit more after a teammates retirement, leaving Baylor followers with one more development to watch as the NFL season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Aranda Just Changed The Baylor Conversation In A Big Way
Baylors season has turned quickly from early concern to real momentum, with four straight wins after a narrow opening loss and a defense that has looked much sharper under defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman. The improvement has helped reset the conversation around Dave Aranda, whose decision to hand off play-calling duties was part of a broader effort to get the program moving in the right direction after a rocky stretch of outside criticism.
The Bears also reshaped the roster through transfers, with quarterback DJ Lagway among the most notable additions as the staff tried to add more answers on offense. Lagways path has not been smooth because of injuries and uneven play, which leaves Baylor with some uncertainty even as the overall vibe around the program has changed for the better. [Read more 🡒]