K-State falls to Baylor in four sets, 2-8 in Big 12

K-State (8-12, 2-8 Big 12 Conference) entered its second half of conference play against No. 23 Baylor (18-4, 7-4 Big 12) Saturday.

The Wildcats started the match with a convincing 25-18 win in the first set, but fell the next three sets 16-25, 18-25, 28-30.

Both teams started out swapping leads and points, until Baylor went on a five-point run to take a 12-9 lead. K-State responded with two runs of three points back-to-back to take a 15-13 lead midway through the first set. Again, it was back and forth until the Wildcats went on a six-point run to take the lead and ended the match on a three-point run. Led by freshman middle blocker Alex Muff’s .750 hitting percentage, the Wildcats took the first set 25-18.

The second set started out with the Wildcats taking a 3-0 lead from the start. Baylor took a timeout after being down 8-3 and regained composure and tied the set quickly at 10-10. The set remained close until the Bears used two three-point runs and a four-point run to gain an eight-point lead. The Bears closed out the second set with two more points and won 25-16.

Baylor took a 3-0 lead in the third set behind the serving of senior setter Taylor Barnes. K-State got back within one point at 5-6, which was the closest they would get the rest of the set. The Bears went on a three-point run to take the lead to 9-5 and never looked back, winning the third set 25-18 with a .528 hitting percentage as a team.

In the fourth set, things were back and forth, and it was tied 10-10 when Baylor went on a four-point run to take a 14-10 lead. The Wildcats called a timeout and regrouped, responding with three consecutive points of their own. The two teams were battling it out to win points off of serves, when K-State took the lead 21-19 on a three-point run. Baylor responded and scored three straight points. The set was tied 27-27 when the Wildcats scored off a Baylor hitting error. Ahead 28-27, the Wildcats had a chance to seize the fourth set, but the Bears scored three points to win the last set 30-28 and the match 3-1.

“I’m proud of the way they played,” said head coach Suzie Fritz. “I thought we played with good spontaneity, competed hard, and I was very pleased with our serving. We still got to get all the pieces working together.”

The Bears were led by Barnes, who had 54 assists, 14 digs and a .357 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Anna Breyfogle helped lead the Bears with a .480 hitting percentage and 13 kills. Four Bears reached double-digit kills.

The Wildcats were led by Muff’s .308 hitting percentage and junior libero Lauren Mathewson’s 18 digs. Only two players reached double-digit kills.

K-State is scheduled to begin a two-game road trip when the team heads to Columbia, Mo. First serve is set for 7 p.m.