Sports editor Jaralynn Tammi Morellano says Tulsa was not as lucky with its second match.
The University of Tulsa volleyball team started its 2024 season at the Baylor Classic in Waco, Texas on Friday, where it went 1-1. Its first match ended in an astounding 3-0 against Campbell, but TU fell short against Baylor when it reversed its first match’s score to fall 0-3.
“We had some really good moments today and some moments of growth,” Head Coach Lauren Ramatowski said. “I thought Marta did a wonderful job, she was covering ground defensively finishing the day with over 4.5 digs per set. Tytiana was a highlight for us, playing clean with only one error and killing the ball at a high rate. Our setters did a nice job of balancing our offense.
We will continue to grow in our confidence to serve aggressively in big moments, as well as learn to play clean by understanding when to live and when we can kill the ball.”
The match against Campbell saw many good plays from TU, the Golden Hurricane never trailing in the first set. The audience was on the edge of their seats as the score tied three times. Despite its hold on the lead, Tulsa never led by more than three points until it broke the last 13-13 tie. After escaping this close score, they fought on to take the first set 26-17.
TU only got more into its own rhythm in the second set, opening with an 8-1 scoring run. They led by as many as 14 points. With four digs by Outside Hitter Beth Bayless and four kills landed by Middle Blocker Rachel Brown, the Golden Hurricane was able to take this set 25-10.
With TU 2-0 in the contest, Campbell tried its best to keep the Golden Hurricane at bay, the score tying as many as seven times. This round showed a different tone coming from Campbell who was able to earn its first lead of the competition when a kill took it 11-12 over TU. However, it took it right back to put the score at 13-12. TU kept the lead and continued to take the final set 25-22.
The Golden Hurricane’s season opener would bring the record to 23-26 in season openers and 2-0 all-time against Campbell.
After an amazing season-opening victory, the Golden Hurricane would hit their first bump in the road when the Golden Hurricanes fell 0-3 against Baylor. TU put up a fierce fight against the Bears, with both teams exchanging leads and ties until the score was 7-7. Baylor’s ferocity would prove too much to handle as the Golden Hurricane began to fall behind, allowing the Bears to take the set 14-25.
The offense proved to be the shorthand this game, with TU hitting at -.050 while digging the ball 20 times when on the defensive.
The second set was the tightest yet as the teams wriggled out of six tied scores. TU took the first point of the set, but Baylor would not allow it to hold the spotlight for long as it took the lead 1-2 and never trailed after. Despite the late set tie of 20-20, the Bears were able to grab control and get the final five points to end the set 23-25.
The Golden Hurricane’s offense struggled even more in the third set and was unable to garner any traction to make a TU comeback. With Baylor hitting .333 in the final frame, it would close the game out and take the final set 17-25.
The Golden Hurricane finished the Baylor Classic with a game against Abilene Christian on Sunday. TU will continue on the road and face Missouri State, who just went 2-1 at the Spartan Classic, on Wednesday, Sep. 4 at 6 p.m.
