Sept. 4, 2009
Final Stats
STORRS, Conn. - The TCU volleyball team picked up a 3-1 (25-11, 20-25, 25-19, 25-8) victory over New Hampshire on day one of the Toyota UConn Classic Friday afternoon.
Kourtney Edwards finished with a match-high 14 kills, while
Meghan Horio led all defensive players with 17 digs.
Irene Hester put together a solid effort with 13 kills, eight digs and four blocks, including two solo. Kristen Hester finished with eight kills and a match-high nine blocks. Frog servers served up eight aces in the match, led by two each from Kristen Hester, Megan Munce and Katelyn Blackwood.
A dominating effort in the first set got the Frogs off on the right foot as they took the early match lead with a 25-11 victory. Two kills each from Edwards and Irene Hester helped the frogs build a commanding 7-1 lead, forcing a Wildcat timeout. Kristen Hester's first of two solo blocks in the set spurred a 4-0 run that was capped by back-to-back aces from Munce, giving TCU an 11-3 lead.
A blast from Sloane Sunstrum gave the Frogs a 10-point advantage at 15-5 and the Frogs would maintain that distance the rest of the set. Another solo denial in the middle by Kristen Hester built the lead to 11 at 20-9. Irene Hester gave the Frogs set point with a service ace and Kristen Hester finished the 25-11 win with her third kill of the match.
In the second set, the Frogs stormed out to a 10-5 lead. Edwards dominated the early part of the set with two kills and two blocks. Horio mixed in an ace and Sunstrum got into the blocking game to help the Frogs build the lead.
The Wildcats found a spark and battled back into the set as they used a 3-0 run to pull within two,10-8 and eventually caught up to tie the set at 15. Four straight hitting errors by the Frogs turned a lead into a deficit as Hew Hampshire took a 19-15 lead, forcing a TCU timeout. The Frogs pulled back within three at 19-22 on a Munce kill, but the Wildcats held on for a 25-20 victory to tie the match at one.
Edwards broke a 4-4 tie in the third set and continued to build on the lead as they used a 6-1 run to open up a 10-5 lead capped by a Kylie Pont/Edwards denial in the middle. Edwards kept her momentum as the Frogs continued to build on their lead. She pitched in with two more kills and combined on a block to put TCU up 18-10. A Munce kill force a Wildcat timeout.
The Frogs weathered a 4-0 run by New Hampshire and answered with a 4-2 run to give themselves set point. A solo denial in the middle by Edwards sealed the 25-19 set three win and gave the Frogs a 2-1 match lead.
Irene Hester was a force in the fourth set as she tallied six kills and two blocks to help the Frogs build a commanding 20-5 lead. With a 7-3 lead, Irene Hester blasted a cross court kill to spur a 7-0 run that was capped by a Katelyn Blackwood ace. Irene Hester dropped in two more kills and teamed with her sister, Kristen on a block in the middle to cap a 5-0 run.
Back-to-back aces from Kristen Hester and an attacking error by the Wildcats gave the Frogs match point. Another Wildcat miscue sealed the 25-8 game four victory.
TCU improves to 3-2 on the season. The Frogs will square off against Long Island Saturday morning at 9 a.m. (CST) as they continue play in the Toyota UConn Classic.
