No need to dwell on a loss. The TCU volleyball team is already looking forward to its next Big 12 Conference match against Kansas on Saturday.
“[Wednesday night] and [Thursday] our focus will be beating Kansas and learning what they’re about,” sophomore right-side hitter Blaire Pickens said after the Frogs fell to Texas Wednesday.
The Horned Frogs (11-4, 0-1 Big 12) were swept by the Longhorns in three sets (19-25, 16-25, 15-25). In the team's first Big 12 Conference match of the season, the strong Texas offense was too much to handle for the Frogs.
TCU senior middle blocker Yvonne Igodan, who played outside hitter, led the Frogs with eight kills and added two blocks. Sophomore right-side hitter Blaire Pickens followed closely with seven kills. Freshman libero Shane Peters and sophomore defensive specialist Sutton Sunstrum each recorded nine digs.
“A few points we’d play well and a few points we’d let it slip,” Pickens said. “But it’s early in the season so it’s nothing we can’t fix.”
Sophomore setter Alexia Heist said she will do what she has to do to "help lead this team" both against Kansas and later in the conference.
“I know we can do it, it’s just a matter of putting the pieces together,” she said.
In Lewis' eyes, the first thing the Frogs must improve going into the Kansas game is serving the ball in the court.
"If we can't serve at home, it's going to be really tough to serve on the road," Lewis said. "Our athletes are really going to need to step that up."
The Frogs will get that chance Saturday against Kansas (10-3, 0-0 Big 12). The Jayhawks are coming off a shortened-set exhibition loss in five to the Italy U-23 National Team Wednesday.
The entire roster was worked into the match and statistics would not be counted toward individual or team records.
Junior outside hitter Chelsea Albers led the team in kills with 11. Senior setter Erin McNorton recorded 23 assists, and redshirt freshman middle blocker Janae Hall added a team-high 6 blocks in the match.
TCU leaders in freshman outside hitter Ashley Smith and junior right-side hitter Stephanie Holland sat out of the Texas game with injuries. Lewis said she believes both players will be healthy enough to make the starting lineup against the Jayhawks.
First serve is set for 1 p.m. at Kansas. The match will air live on MetroSports and ESPN3 at WatchESPN.com.
