WVU Volleyball (7-4) dropped three sets to one to No. 11 TCU Sunday at Hope Coliseum in Morgantown. Read more: WVU Volleyball falls to No. 11 TCU, 3-1.
Just two days after West Virginia’s upset victory over No. 9 Arizona State, the Mountaineers could not repeat that same magic. WVU managed to win the first set 25-18, but dropped the next three sets to the Horned Frogs.
The loss brings West Virginia to 1-1 in conference play and 8-4 overall for the season.
First set
The Mountaineers started strong in front of their home crowd. Despite the Horned Frogs entering Morgantown without a loss since September 4, WVU gave them everything they had in the opening set.
At the beginning, it was back-and-forth for both squads. Neither could build much of a lead until West Virginia hit the 10-point mark.
After that point, the Mountaineers managed to stretch to a four-point lead at 14-10. Once they commanded that lead, WVU did not let it go.
At one point, WVU stretched its lead to seven points, going up 19-12 after an ace. The Mountaineers remained in control for the rest of the first set, cruising to a 25-18 win.
Second and third set
The second set was just as competitive as the beginning of the first set was. However, the only difference was it remained like that throughout the entire way.
It was back-and-forth the entire way, with neither team building more than a three-point lead. West Virginia looked like it was going to be able to pull off another win after tying it up 19-19 following a kill by Anna Barr.
However, the Horned Frogs hunkered down and managed to take control of the lead. TCU did not squander the lead again the rest of the way and took the second set 25-22.
In the third set, the Horned Frogs started strong, but the Mountaineers managed to weather the storm. WVU even jumped up to a 10-5 lead at one point.
TCU didn’t surrender, though, as they slowly inched closer to the lead. After they tied it up 12-12, West Virginia could never regain the lead.
The Horned Frogs jumped out to a 22-16 lead at one point and easily took the third set 25-19.
Fourth set
By the time the fourth set rolled around, it was clear that the Horned Frogs had sunk their claws in the Mountaineers. TCU had very little trouble in the final set of the match.
West Virginia took an early 1-0 lead, but that was the last time they were in control. TCU quickly jumped out to a 9-3 lead and continued that momentum the rest of the way.
At one point, the Horned Frogs were leading 20-9. They cruised to a 25-17 win in the fourth and final set.
Despite the loss, the Mountaineers proved once again they belong in the Big 12. WVU aims to bounce back against Texas Tech October 2 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.
