Baylor volleyball sweeps into Sweet 16 at home

A record-setting season for the No. 1-ranked Baylor volleyball team will continue into the NCAA Sweet 16 after the Bears swept through the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament at the Ferrell Center this past weekend.

As the nation’s No. 1 overall seed, expectations were high heading into the weekend — and the Bears delivered, sweeping first round foe Sacred Heart in three sets Friday night before dispatching USC in similar fashion Saturday. The sweeps, the 20th and 21st on the season for Baylor, send the Bears to the Sweet 16 for the second time in program history and their first appearance since 2009.

Throughout the weekend, the highly-decorated Bears played up to their lofty titles. After becoming the first Big 12 Player of the Year in program history, junior Yossiana Pressley notched 12 kills in the win over USC, a total matched by first-team All-Big 12 selection Shelly Stafford. They were joined on the all-conference first team by Hannah Lockin, the Big 12 Setter of the Year, and on the All-Big 12 second team by Gia Milana and Kara McGhee. Head Coach Ryan McGuyre earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors for the second time in three years.

Now, Baylor’s sights turn to No. 16 Purdue; the Bears and Boilermakers will square off in the regional semifinals Friday at 11 a.m. at the Ferrell Center. The winner of that match will face either No. 8 Washington or No. 9 Kentucky on Saturday for the right to advance to the Final Four. Get your tickets now to cheer on the Bears!

Sic ’em, Bears!