Sept. 7, 2001

WACO, TEXAS - "It's going to be really weird for both of us," sophomore Mindy Chuha said on the eve of Rhode Island's volleyball match at unbeaten Baylor. "We've never played against each other anywhere, even in doubles games. I've never smashed a ball at her, and she's never smashed one at me."

Mindy was talking about her sister Dana, a senior setter for unbeaten Baylor and the Division I assist leader last season.

"We're only 18 months apart, and we get along really well," Mindy said. "We've never had a fight. We've been kind of talking smack to each other, but just in fun. We want each other to have a good match."

The Chuha sisters of Yorba Linda, Calif., each had outstanding matches Friday night as Rhode Island fell to the Bears 3-0 in the second round of the Baylor Classic. Mindy, a right side hitter, led Rhode Island in kills and attack percentage with a career-high .353 (7-1-17) despite bruising her leg on a pole and sitting down early. Dana contributed 48 assists and an errorless .500 attack percentage (6-0-12) for Baylor on the way to making the all-tournament squad.

Baylor's 30-23, 30-23, 30-27 victory made ran its record to 6-0, two wins shy of its best start ever (1999). Rhode Island fell to 0-6, including three losses to nationally ranked teams and two others to unbeaten teams.

"Our parents will be there," Mindy before the match, "and they've never been in this situation before either. My mom's going, 'What side should I sit on? Who should I cheer for?' Maybe my dad will be on one side, my mom on the other. Maybe they'll switch sides. I don't know."

To make things even stranger for Mindy, two of her best friends from home also start for Baylor. Against Rhode Island, Stevie Nicholas pounded out 18 kills and hit .448 with four blocks and nine digs. But it was her sister, Sunny Nicholas, who did the most damage with an eye-popping .611 attack percentage (13-2-18). Meanwhile, in the second game, Laura Daniela Lloreda tied the Big 12 record for most consecutive points served (9).