Daily Skiff

If there's one good thing about how the Mountain West Conference schedule is setup, it's the chance for redemption in a two-match series.

In front of a sold-out, record-setting crowd of 1875, TCU volleyball, which lost to Colorado State on Sept. 26, got its revenge Thursday night in a thrilling 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-10) upset over the No. 25 Rams.

TCU's win also snapped Colorado State's 12-match win streak that dated back to Sept. 9.

The Horned Frogs held Colorado State to a .097 hitting percentage, well below its league-leading average of .248.

"It was our serving game," head coach Prentice Lewis said. "We had a very good serving match tonight."

TCU used a fiery attack to aid its impressive defense. The Horned Frogs hit a .224 hitting percentage with 38 kills. TCU punched in seven aces - three by sophomore Megan Munce and two apiece from sophomore Kristen Hester and freshman Meghan Horio.

The Horned Frogs also piled in 60 digs. Senior Katelyn Blackwood led the way with 14, junior Irene Hester had 13, and both senior Lauren Otto and Munce chipped in 10.

Junior middle blocker Christy Hudson led TCU's attack with 11 kills and a .375 hitting percentage.

"They had difficult time dealing with the slide," Hudson said. "Megan Munce and I had really good connections. The whole team played good defense, so we got to put some balls away."

Munce notched her 10th double-double of the season with 29 assists and 10 digs.

Senior Kourtney Edwards added eight kills and five blocks. Kristen Hester, Irene Hester, and Otto all chipped in six kills apiece.

In a first set labeled a game of runs, TCU took advantage.

After Colorado State hurried to a 15-10 lead, TCU responded with eight straight points that included two kills from Hudson and two other points by Irene Hester and Otto.

The Rams took the lead back at 23-21, but a Hudson/Edwards block kept TCU in it. Horio's ace and an Edwards' kill brought the Horned Frogs to match point, and another Horio ace gave TCU the set.

Set two nearly reflected the first set, but this time it was TCU who jumped out to a 15-10 advantage. The Rams tied the set at 18, and the two teams traded the next few points. Lauren Otto's kill brought the Horned Frogs to set point at 24-22, and another Christy Hudson putaway won the purple and white set two.

In the third set, the Horned Frogs used 11 Colorado State miscues and an aggressive .400 offensive attack to win the game.

Megan Munce's service ace gave TCU its biggest lead of the set at 20-7, and a Kristen Hester kill lifted the Horned Frogs to match-point.

Very fittingly, another ace, this time by Kirsten Hester, awarded TCU the match.

"We didn't have good match-ups at the very beginning, and we did well and won the first set," Lewis said. "So we stayed with it, and they rotated into what we wanted. Then it was even harder on them."

Despite winning such a big match, however, Lewis said her team still has work to do.

"It's huge," Lewis said. "Everyone keeps saying 'this is such a great win.' To be able to be a contender, we got to win the rest of our matches, so that's the important part."

TCU improved to 18-5 overall and 7-2 in the MWC. Meanwhile, Colorado State fell to 16-4 and 8-1 in league play. The Horned Frogs will be in action Saturday when they take on Wyoming at 2 p.m. in the University Rec Center.

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