TCU
Air Force
TCU Snatches Road Win At Air Force
10/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2010
USAFA, Colo. - The TCU Horned Frogs started the second half of conference play with a hard-fought 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-21) victory over Air Force Friday night. The Frogs got big performances from Kristen Hester (10 kills, five blocks) and Irene Hester (13 kills, 10 digs). Kay Lin Connolly paced the Frogs defense with 19 digs.For Irene Hester, it was her 12th double-double of the season. She added two blocks and two service aces to her stat line. Jordan Raines picked up her sixth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs, while also pitching in with three blocks. Christy Hudson totaled eight kills and racked up 12 digs to go along with three blocks. Meghan Horio dished out 34 assists and had six digs in the victory. Yvonne Igodan tallied five kills and had three blocks.
The Frogs raced out to an early 10-2 lead to take control of the first set. Igodan was a big part of the Frogs' early success with three kills, while Kristen Hester dropped in a service ace and a solo block. However, the Falcons battled back to eventually tie the game at 12 with a 10-2 run of their own.
A blast by Hudson put the Frogs back in front. Raines teamed with Kristen Hester on a block in the middle to extend the lead to two, 14-12. Three straight kills from Hudson, Raines and Kristen Hester pushed the lead to four, 17-13. The Frogs continued to push as the lead grew to six on a kill from Kristen Hester. Irene Hester dropped in a pair of kills and a block by Raines and Igodan gave TCU set point. A service error by the Falcons locked up the 25-21 set one victory for the Frogs.
The Falcons turned the tide in the second set as they raced out to an early 8-3 lead. TCU weathered the storm and put together a furious rally of its own to get back in the set. A pair of kills from Irene Hester put the Frogs back on the hunt. Hudson and Igodan blocked a Falcon attempt to tie the game at nine and Raines put the Frogs on top 10-9 with a cross court blast. Hudson and Igodan again teamed on a block, Raines tallied another kill and Irene Hester served up an ace to push the lead to four, 13-9.
Holding a slim 15-14 lead, Hudson blasted two straight kills to give the Frogs some breathing room. Kristen Hester capped the mini-rally with a kill to put the Frogs up five, 21-16. Igodan teamed with Kristen Hester on a block and Irene Hester blasted a kill to give the Frogs set point, 24-17. After a sideout, Hudson ended things with a kill on the right side for the 25-18 victory and the 2-0 match lead.
TCU took control of the third set early as the Frogs were firing on all cylinders. Irene started things with a kill followed by a loud denial on the outside by Raines and Kristen Hester. Raines capped the early run with a kill to give the Frogs a 7-4 lead. Air Force showed their fight with a 5-1 run that turned the Frog lead into a 9-8 Falcon lead. Irene Hester silenced the Falcons with a kill and a solo block by Hudson put the Frogs back on top 10-9.
The Frogs used the momentum and pushed their lead to 17-12. Horio served up an ace and Irene Hester came through with a solo block in the race to the lead. After a Raines kill gave the Frogs a 20-15 lead, Air Force called a timeout.
Out of the break, the Falcons pulled back within three, 21-18, but Raines again came through with a kill to put the ball back in the Frogs' hands. An attacking error by Air Force gave the Frogs set point and Kristen Hester sealed the victory with her 10th kill of the night for a 25-21 set three win.
TCU improves to 13-10 on the season and 4-5 in league play. The Frogs return to the court Sunday afternoon in a nationally televised contest at UNLV. Tune in to CBS College Sports to catch all the live action, which is set to begin at 3 p.m. (CST).
