Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Volleyball Prepares For Busy Week
October 29, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2001
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RED RAIDERS HAVE TOUGH WEEK AHEAD
Texas Tech head volleyball coach Jeff Nelson has made the point plenty of times that there is no easy match in the Big 12 Conference. That point particularly hits home this week as Texas Tech takes on perennial powerhouses Texas and Colorado. Texas Tech went 0-2 against these two teams in the first half of play and desperately needs a win this week to keeps its postseason hopes alive.
Texas Tech traveled to Colorado back on Sept. 26th for a very short three-game match that went in Colorado's favor. Texas Tech was swept in three games 30-24, 30-17, and 30-22.
One of the most heartbreaking matches of the season came just a couple of weeks ago when the Texas Longhorns escaped Lubbock with a five-game win. Texas Tech took a 2-0 lead in the match to the lockerroom at intermission but allowed Texas to rally in the second half winning three straight games to win 3-2 (30-27, 30-23, 27-30, 26-30, 8-15).
Texas Tech enters the week with a 13-8 overall record and 6-6 mark in Big 12 Conference play. Texas Tech snapped a two-match losing streak against Kansas on Saturday night as the Red Raiders swept KU 3-0 (30-24, 30-21 and 30-26).
Texas and Colorado have combined records of 25-18.
SCOUTING THE LONGHORNS
Texas Tech will travel to Austin on Wednesday in search of back-to-back wins at Gregory Gymnasium for the first time in school history. Texas Tech defeated Texas 3-1 last season in Austin marking the first time in 23 years that the Texas Tech volleyball team had won a match on Texas' home court. It will not be an easy task as the Longhorns have shown dramatic improvement all season long under first-year head coach Jerritt Elliott.
The Longhorns are 12-8 on the season and 6-6 in the Big 12. Texas is being led by freshman middle blocker Bethany Howden who has 294 kills and a .343 hitting percentage.
Texas leads the all-time series 51-9-2.
BREAKING DOWN COLORADO
The Colorado Buffaloes are another team that has shown drastic improvement this season. The Buffaloes enter this week with a 13-7 overall mark and are 8-4 in the Big 12.
Monique Gerlach is the leading hitter for Colorado as she tallies over 250 kills on the year. No CU stats were available at the time this release was written.
Colorado leads the all-time series 10-1.
RAIDERS RANK NATIONALLY
Texas Tech features one player ranked in the latest NCAA national statistics released on Oct. 21st. As a team, Texas Tech ranks in three categories.
Senior setter Skydra Orzen is the leading setter in the nation as she tallies 1,116 assists and a 14.13 assist-per-game average.
As a team, Texas Tech ranks 9th in total assists with 1,224, 30th in digs with 1383 and is in 9th place in kills with 1,331.
A JUMBLED MESS
If Texas Tech plans to make a post-season run, then this is the week as the Red Raiders are one of three teams with a 6-6 mark in Big 12 play. Texas Tech, Texas and Baylor all currently sit at 6-6 in the league and all three will be looking to make a push for an NCAA Tournament bid.
JUSTICE FOR ALL
The Texas Tech volleyball faithful have a new chant for senior outside hitter Heather Hughes-Justice--- "And Justice For All." Hughes-Justice has been distributing the justice recently as she has put up 133 kills in a three-week span. She currently ranks third on the team with 228 total kills and also has 197 digs.
HERRERA BECOMING A DEFENSIVE LEADER
Freshman defensive specialist Jessy Herrera has been outstanding the past couple of weeks in the back row. Herrera has led the Red Raiders in digs over the last five matches with a total of 67. On the season, Herrera has 209 digs which is third-best on the team.
THIS AND THAT
- Texas Tech is a 9-3 at home this season and 22-5 all-time at the United Spirit Arena. Texas Tech snapped a three-match losing streak this past weekend against Kansas, winning 3-0
- Head Coach Jeff Nelson is now three wins away from earning his 150th career win as a head coach.
- Texas Tech has four players who total 175+ kills on the season (Angela Mooney - 179, Kelly Johnson - 231, Melissa McGehee - 251, Heather Hughes-Justice - 228).
- Junior outside hitter Melissa McGehee earned her 800th career kill this past week and now has 813 total. McGehee moved up to 12th on the all-time list at Texas Tech and needs just nine more kills to surpass Kristen Sparks for the No. 11 spot.
- Senior outside hitter Heather Hughes-Justice tallied her 1,000th career dig in the match against Nebraska. Hughes-Justice now has 1,033 career digs.
