FORT WORTH – No. 15 TCU wrapped up competition at the Fight in the Fort Tournament on Friday, picking up a pair of wins over Rhode Island and No. 23 Missouri. The Horned Frogs (7-1, 0-0 Big 12) earned their fourth win in the last three days, sweeping the Rams (2-7, Atlantic 10) and defending their home court against the Tigers (5-3, 0-0 SEC).
 
TCU has now won 14 consecutive matches at home dating back to last year and five straight over ranked opponents. This season, the Frogs are the only school in the nation to have five victories over top-25 teams, and with seven total wins through their first eight contests, the Frogs are off to their best start to a season since 2015 (also 7-1).
 
The day was highlighted by a 32-kill performance by sophomore Evan Hendrix. The Scottsdale, Arizona, product had a career night against Missouri. Her 32 kills rank as the most by any player in the Big 12 this season, the most by any player in the country in a four-set match and the third-most in school history in a four-set match.
 
MATCH ONE | TCU 3, RHODE ISLAND 0
All 17 student-athletes saw action in TCU’s first win of the day. The Frogs took care of business against Rhode Island in the morning match, making light work of the Rams in a sweep.
 
As a team, TCU hit above .300 for the first time this season, recording a .340 hitting percentage. Becca Kelley led the attack with 11 kills on a .304 clip herself. Mikala Young also added a career-high eight kills, and senior Emily Van Groningen posted eight as well on just 12 swings.
 
Senior Melanie McGann tallied her first kill, as did Van Groningen. Freshman Reese Wilburn made her collegiate debut, tallying three assists, and Anna Rice checked in for the first action of her young career.
 
After a bit of a sluggish start through the first 10 points, Hendrix got the Frogs going. She sparked a 5-0 scoring run into the media timeout with one of her six kills in the set, and TCU never looked back. Rhode Island did manage to pull back within two at 21-19, but Kelley slammed the door, scoring two of the final three points to give the Frogs a 25-19 set victory.
 
TCU’s momentum carried over as the Frogs began to dominate the Rams. Alexis Roberson capped off a 4-0 run that doubled up Rhode Island at 12-6, and Van Groningen kick-started an 8-0 run to close out the set with a 25-12 win.
 
The Frogs took care of business in the third, using a pair of 3-0 bursts to build up a five-point lead. Rhode Island cut it to two points late, but TCU ended the match on a 7-1 run to complete the sweep.
 
MATCH TWO | TCU 3, MISSOURI 1
It was all Hendrix in the nightcap as the sophomore put the team on her back, going off for a career-high 32 kills on a .348 hitting efficiency. Missouri couldn’t slow down Hendrix, who also finished with 14 digs to give her a double-double in the match.
 
Kelley added 15 kills herself, while middle blockers Roberson and Sylvester combined for 13. The Frogs were stout defensively, recording 14 blocks as a team, helping them outhit Missouri .250-.193.
 
TCU set the tone, scoring each of the first three points and building up a five-point advantage at the media break. Just when it looked like the Frogs were going to run away with the set, five straight points for the Tigers flipped the script and gave Missouri a 21-19 edge and forced Williams to call a timeout. TCU regrouped and tied things back up at 23 all before both teams battled into extra points. The Frogs fought off two Missouri set points to stay alive and then became the aggressors; however, the Tigers wouldn’t go away quietly, fending off five set points before an attack error sealed a 32-30 win for TCU in the first.
 
The second set had a similar feel, as the Frogs jumped out to a five-point lead only to see Missouri claw its way back and force extra points. This time it was TCU who tried to stall the Tigers, battling off five set points, but Missouri finally broke free and evened the match with a 32-30 set victory.
 
Looking to respond, TCU never trailed in the third set. Hendrix’s 20th kill put the Frogs up by four early at 7-3, but as was the case in the first two sets, Missouri refused to go away quietly. Tied at 12, a mini 5-1 run was the difference, putting the set just out of reach as TCU was able to win 25-21.
 
With all the momentum, the Frogs came out and finished what they started. TCU led from start to finish in the fourth. A Sylvester block made the margin five at 15-10, and it was later stretched to six on Hendrix’s 31st kill of the match. The Tigers made a late push, but it was too little too late as the Frog secured a 25-21 set victory to seal their fifth consecutive win over a ranked opponent.
 
No. 15 TCU hits the road for a four-match swing to close out non-conference play. The Frogs travel down to Austin for a midweek at No. 2 Texas on Wednesday, Sept. 17, before making their way to Houston for the Rice Invitational Sept. 19-20.

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