Baylor University Volleyball: A History of Growth and Achievement
Baylor University's women's volleyball team has risen to national prominence, marking a journey of growth and achievement since its inception. This article explores the program's history, from its humble beginnings to its current status as a national powerhouse.
Early Years: Building the Foundation
The women's volleyball program at Baylor University officially began in 1978. In these early years, resources were limited. The team and staff were responsible for driving vans to tournaments both in Texas and out of state. Former student athletic trainer Pam Rast recalled the days when she would pick up the vans and gather all the necessary equipment for trips, highlighting the small coaching staff at the time.
Accommodations were modest, with players staying in budget motels, often sharing rooms. Ann Blockhus Martin, a player on Baylor's first NCAA volleyball team, remembered staying at Motel 6 with three or four players to a room. The team did not have its own facilities on campus and played at Spenco Aerobics Center, using the football weight room for training. Martin noted that they "never played on campus" during those early years.
Transition to the NCAA
A significant shift occurred in 1981 when women’s sports, including volleyball, transitioned from the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) to the NCAA. Rast emphasized that "it was all about the opportunity to compete," and this transition "opened a lot of doors." Martin reflected on that time, saying, "We were kids, we were in school, we were playing volleyball."
The landscape of college volleyball at that time featured a diverse array of programs, with emerging teams like Baylor competing against more established and financially supported programs such as Texas. Martin noted that "there was quite a diverse group of teams that we played versus now."
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Growth and Development
The 1981 volleyball team recognized and appreciated the significant strides that have been made since moving to the NCAA. Today, the volleyball program shares the Ferrell Center and its facilities with acrobatics and tumbling. Women’s basketball has moved into the state-of-the-art Foster Pavilion alongside the men’s team, and softball has its own dedicated Getterman Stadium. Martin acknowledged the progress, stating that “Women in sports have come leaps and bounds as to where we were."
Tournament Appearances and National Recognition
It took 18 years for the Bears to make their first tournament appearance after joining the NCAA. They made additional tournament appearances in 2001, 2009, and 2011. The program then transformed into a powerhouse under the leadership of head coach Ryan McGuyre, who has been with the team since 2015.
Under McGuyre, Baylor has achieved remarkable success, reaching nine consecutive NCAA tournaments and a semifinal appearance in 2019 as the No. 1 overall seed. Martin praised McGuyre, stating that "He’s a great role model for these girls, and he builds leaders."
Undefeated Season and No. 1 Ranking
Baylor's volleyball team achieved a historic milestone by ascending to the No. 1 ranking in the nation in the AVCA coaches poll. This marked the first time in the program's history that it reached the top spot. The team's undefeated record, including victories over top-ranked opponents, propelled them to this achievement.
In 2019, more than 300 schools played Division I women’s volleyball, but Baylor was the only one that remained undefeated. The team's 11-0 start included wins over No. 10 Marquette, No. 11 Hawaii, No. 13 Wisconsin, No. 14 Creighton and No. Thanks to the hot start, volleyball joined women’s basketball and acrobatics & tumbling to give Baylor three No. 1-ranked teams so far in 2019, and six top-ranked programs in the last three years (alongside men’s basketball, men’s golf and equestrian). The team claimed 54 out of 64 first-place votes to easily take the top spot.
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A Strong Community
A strong connection exists between different generations of Baylor volleyball players. Martin and her 1981 teammates have formed bonds with players who have reached other milestones, continuing to support the program they helped build. Martin emphasized the special bond among Baylor athletes, stating, "Being an athlete at Baylor puts you in a special group, because I could reach out to other Baylor volleyball people."
Nickname Evolution
Baylor had historically used "Lady Bears" as its women's sports nickname. However, over time, all women's teams dropped "Lady."
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