No. 6 seed Baylor volleyball mounted a third-set comeback to regain momentum after No. 3 seed Purdue dominated the first two sets. The Bears’ rhythm was short-lived as the Boilermakers won the match 3-1, eliminating Baylor from the NCAA Tournament.

Freshman outside hitter Ksenia Rakhmanchik set a season-high with 32 kills in No. 6 Baylor volleyball’s first-round NCAA Tournament win over Arkansas State. Rakhmanchik continued her recent tear following a 28-kill performance in the regular season finale.

Making the NCAA Tournament has become the standard for Baylor volleyball. They’ve cherished the opportunity to compete for a national championship.

Nine years after Title IX was enacted, the NCAA welcomed women’s sports, including volleyball. While facilities and resources were scarce at Baylor, the Bears’ drive to play collegiate volleyball remained strong. That first team in the NCAA paved the way for the national powerhouse.

The Bears secured their second consecutive conference series sweep and are riding a five-game winning streak.