Volleyball team defeats Mustangs in four games
Win boosts Frogs’ confidence as they begin WAC schedule
By Colleen Casey
skiff staff
Beating Southern Methodist Friday night was the realization of a season
goal for the Volley Frogs.
“We really wanted to move out of the (Western Athletic Conference) leaving SMU something to remember us by,” junior middle blocker Allison Lynch said. “Beating them tonight is definitely a confidence booster.”
In a 3-1 win against SMU, the Frogs also started the WAC portion of the schedule.
“We have to get ready for WAC play,” junior outside hitter Marci King said. “The WAC means bigger games, like the one tonight.”
The Frogs had lost to the Mustangs the past four matches, creating increased interest in the last season of this cross-town rivalry.
Despite the high anxiety level in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum Friday night, TCU was able to take an early 5-1 lead. SMU tied it up at 5-5, but the Frogs fought back with an 8-1 burst to lead 13-6.
The Mustangs regained control, as they went on to score seven consecutive points to tie the game at 13. TCU then took advantage of a few SMU attack errors and scored two more points to win the first game 15-13.
“We played smart,” Lynch said. “We earned the win, even if they helped us a bit with the few errors they made in the end of the game.”
The Frogs also took an early 5-1 lead in the second game. SMU again tied the game at 5-5, and the Mustangs won the second game 15-8.
“We realized that we needed to play our game,” King said. “We couldn’t keep letting them control us.”
In the third game, SMU led 9-3 until the Frogs’ 10-point comeback. The Mustangs eventually tied the game at 13-13, but TCU came back and took the third game 15-13.
It was SMU’s turn to jump to a 5-1 game-four lead, but TCU was able to tie the game at 6-6. The Frogs then took over to win the fourth game 15-8, and take the match from SMU, 3-1.
“We expected the games to be point-by-point,” Lynch said. “We were given the opportunity to win and we took it.”
Although the Frogs were able to win Friday night, head coach Sandy Troudt said she doesn’t like to give up early leads and create any unnecessary challenges.
“Working on consistency in our play is something we’re always working on,” Troudt said. “We don’t want to continue using all of our energy up before we need it.”
Troudt said she believes the win against SMU will be a positive motivating experience for the team.
“I think we have strong defense,” Troudt said. “We also have players that are continuing to come in the game and give us a needed spark.”
Troudt said sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Watson was the spark of the night, giving the Frogs an energy boost in games three and four.
Another added factor to the Frogs’ game was senior outside hitter Amy Atamanczuk’s offense. She led the team with 18 kills and 46 total attacks.
Setter Lindsay Hayes was able to tack on 50 more assists to her all-time assist record.
Troudt said the team’s respect for each other and for the team is an example of the dedication that makes the team deserve its success.
“Right now we’re going to enjoy ourselves,” Troudt said. “We’ve been playing so much these past few weeks and we’re going to take advantage of a little down time before we get deep into WAC play.”
The Horned Frogs play at 7 p.m. today at Southwest Texas State before getting back into WAC play Saturday at Tulsa.
Colleen Casey
c.m.casey@student.tcu.edu
No worries: Frogs can pass
Frogs utilize passing game in 52-3 victory
By Danny Horne
sports editor
It took the Horned Frogs all of two offensive series to pick up the game-winning score against Arkansas State on Saturday.
Sophomore quarterback Casey Printers threw an interception in the first series, but senior LaDainian Tomlinson followed on the second series with a 64-yard touchdown run that proved to be the game winner — with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter.
TCU scored on its next four possessions and led 31-3 at halftime en route to a dominant 52-3 victory.
Head coach Dennis Franchione said he was pleased with the victory, but
was surprised at the final result.
“(Arkansas State) is not as bad as that score would indicate,”
he said. “We had some things go our way, and we had a big (defensive)
play early.”
In the first two TCU wins this season, the rushing game had been the
main weapon led by Tomlinson’s 209-yard average. Against Arkansas
State, Printers stepped up and had his best performance of the season.
He completed 11 of 15 passes for 204 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Printers said the passing game was made available, so he took advantage of open receivers.
“They were giving us the pass (all night), so we had no choice,” Printers said. “We did a great job of throwing and catching the football, and nobody can put a finger on who the big-play guy is going to be at any given time.”
While Tomlinson didn’t have a huge game, his 140 yards and two touchdowns came after just three quarters of action. As a team, the Horned Frogs had 255 yards on 44 carries. Junior fullback George Layne had four carries for 34 yards and one touchdown and added two catches for 55 yards and another touchdown.
Tomlinson said Printers’ game should set the tone for the rest of the season.
“Any time we have a day like that — when (Printers) has a good day — I don’t think anyone can beat us,” Tomlinson said. “Teams will look at this game on tape and say TCU has a balanced offense.”
Leading 31-3, the Horned Frogs’ defense forced an early second-half punt. TCU responded with a two-play, 78-yard drive which was capped off by a 74-yard touchdown from Printers to sophomore wide receiver LaTarence Dunbar.
Franchione said he was happy with how his team came out to start the second half.
“I liked the fact that the team came out to finish the game in the third quarter,” Franchione said. “We played a little ‘Eye of the Tiger’ tonight, which is what we try to teach these guys.
“To our credit, we were able to put them away.”
Danny Horne
bravestcu3116@mindspring.com