Sept. 30, 2005

PROVO, Utah - After defeating North Texas in three games Tuesday night at the University Rec Center, the TCU volleyball team opens conference play tonight when they take on No. 20 BYU. The Frogs will play their second conference match of the season tomorrow when they travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Utes at 7 p.m.

The Frogs are a combined 0-7 versus the opponents, but look to end that trend and pick up their first conference wins this season.

In front of the fifth-largest crowd to ever watch a volleyball match in Provo, BYU defeated Utah in four games on Wednesday night. The trio of Chelsea Goodman, Erica Lott and Lindsay Hartsock combined for 46 of BYU's 61 kills in the match. Lott and Goodman are both among the top 10 for kills in the Mountain West Conference.

BYU is a perfect 10-0 on the season and is a top the conference with a 3-0 mark. The win by the Cougars snapped a 10-match losing streak to the Utes.

Utah is currently 9-5 and 1-2 in conference play. In the match versus BYU, freshman Shannon Krug (fourth in the MWC in assists) did an excellent job of distributing the ball, racking up 44 kills.

TCU is now 10-4 on the season with the sweep of North Texas. Sophomore Talaya Whitfield led the Horned Frogs' attack with 16 kills, resulting in a new career high. The Lakewood, Calif., product also recorded 13 digs for her third double-double of the season.

Sophomore LeMeita Smith also got into the offensive action, finishing second on the team with 12 kills.

Junior Anna Vaughn failed to reach double-digit kills for the first time this season, but added five service aces to her conference leading total (32).

The Frogs are ready for their inaugural match in the MWC and will get their first chance at the action tonight at 7 versus BYU.