Oct. 21, 2011

FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU volleyball team got back on track with a dominating 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-18) victory over New Mexico Friday night to improve to 18-4 on the season. Kristen Hester and Jordan Raines led the Horned Frog attack with 12 kills.

Raines completed her 12th double-double of the season with 16 digs. Sloane Sunstrum racked up 10 kills and tallied seven digs. Megan Munce dished out 43 assists and totaled nine digs. Yvonne Igodan had nine kills to go along with two blocks. Sarah Joeckel led all back row players with 21 digs.

Hester led the charge in the first set with five kills as the Frogs held off the Lobos for a 25-22 victory. With the set tied at nine, Sunstrum blasted a kill then served up an ace to give the Frogs a two-point cushion, 11-9. New Mexico stayed within reach as it kept the deficit manageable until a kill by Hester made it a four-point set, 20-16.

TCU weathered a 4-1 run that saw the Lobos get back within one, 21-20. A denial in the middle by Igodan and Munce pushed the lead to two and spurred a 3-0 run that gave the Frogs set point. A service error locked up the Frog win.

A solid performance in the second set by the Frogs saw them take complete control of the match. TCU committed just four miscues en route to a 25-18 victory and a 2-0 match lead. The teams battled through seven ties early with the Lobos taking an 11-9 lead at one point.

An attacking error by the Lobos set the Frogs on the path to victory as Igodan blasted back-to-back kills to put TCU in front 13-12. The Frog lead stayed at two through the middle part of the set, but two consecutive hitting errors by the Lobos made it 20-16. The Frogs closed out the set win with a 4-0 run that was highlighted by blasts from Raines and Sunstrum.

The Frogs didn't let up in the third set as they raced away with a 25-18 victory to lock up the win. Sunstrum broke an 8-8 tie and Hester gave the Frogs a two-point lead with a blast from the right side.

Horio extended the lead to four, 18-14, with her second ace of the match and a miscue by the Lobos made it a 20-15 contest. Raines, Sunstrum and Igodan helped TCU push the lead to six, 23-17, and a service error gave the Frogs match point. Mattie Burleson sealed the victory with a cross-court kill.

The Horned Frogs improve to 18-4 on the season and 5-3 in league play. TCU returns to action Thursday night when it plays host to Air Force. First serve is set for 7 p.m.

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