No. 11 TCU begins Big 12 play at Cincinnati and West Virginia, riding a seven-match winning streak behind one of the nation’s most explosive offenses.
No. 11 TCU volleyball couldn't have asked for much more momentum heading into Big 12 play.
The Horned Frogs open conference action Friday at Cincinnati before traveling to West Virginia on Sunday, carrying a 9-2 record and seven-match winning streak into their first league road trip of the season.
TCU's only losses came against No. 2 Texas and No. 6 Louisville, while the Frogs picked up ranked victories over No. 8 SMU and No. 14 Purdue during a demanding nonconference schedule.
Now Jason Williams' team gets to see how its fast-paced offense translates to Big 12 competition.
TCU enters the weekend averaging 14.69 kills per set, third-best nationally, while its 13.59 assists per set rank fifth. The Frogs are also hitting .283 as a team and have reached at least .300 in four matches.
Williams has dubbed the attack “Frog Fast,” and outside hitter Evan Hendrix has become one of its biggest weapons.
Hendrix was named to the Big 12 Starting Seven after producing 50 kills and averaging 5.00 kills per set during TCU's unbeaten week against UTEP, Yale and Rice. She also recorded two double-doubles as the Frogs pushed their winning streak to seven.
TCU hasn't been winning solely with offense.
The Frogs have also developed into one of the nation's stronger blocking teams despite replacing both starting middle blockers from last season. TCU has produced 107 blocks compared with 65 by its opponents, including a season-high 19.5 in its victory over SMU.
That balance could be important on the road.
Cincinnati enters conference play 7-3 behind senior Sydney Nolan, who already has three matches with at least 20 kills this season. TCU has won four straight meetings against the Bearcats.
West Virginia is also 7-3 and enters the weekend having won three straight. Nina Horning leads the Mountaineers with 154 kills and 14 service aces.
TCU is only 5-9 historically in Big 12 openers, but this year's group arrives looking far different from a team simply hoping to survive conference play.
The Frogs enter it expecting to contend for the championship.
