Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor
By Daniel Hill
Sports Writer
The Baylor volleyball team is 16-9 with a 3-7 Big 12 Conference record. With six conference games remaining, the Bears are looking to play their best volleyball down the stretch in the second half of the season. Every game is crucial at this juncture in the season. With the first half of Big 12 play behind them, the Bears believe they are poised to make a positive run.
“I feel like since the first half is over, we’ve hopefully learned all of our lessons from the first half,” senior right side hitter Alyssa Dibbern said. “We can use those lessons to show teams that we are a second-half team and they didn’t know what they were getting into the first time they played us.”
The Bears are still tinkering with their starting lineup and trying to find the perfect blend of chemistry that will lead them to the Big 12 tournament.
One of the changes made by head coach Jim Barnes was to burn sophomore outside hitter Tori Cox’s redshirt so she would be eligible to play and contribute to the team this season.
With Cox in the lineup, the Bears have earned two of their three Big 12 wins.
“For me personally, the past couple of days I’ve been going through the day thinking about the fact that we are going to win,” Cox said. “It’s been like a positive mindset. I’ve never once thought about how are we going to beat them. It’s always like we’re going to win regardless.”
The volleyball team is poised for a second-half surge. The team is bonding and coming together as a unit.
“All the girls have been working hard. Players on this team, the chemistry is tremendous,” Barnes said. “I think we are going to be a good second-half team, because the team is really invested and committed. They want to send the seniors out on the highest note that they can by getting us in that tournament and seeing how far we can go. This is probably the most unselfish team I’ve coached and that’s why I’ve enjoyed this group so much. We’re not far off. We are not far off from making a run and we’ll see what we can put together.”
