Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Volleyball Rallies Past Rhode Island In Five
August 31, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 31, 2001
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Senior middle blocker Yolanda Cumbess put down 21 kills to lead Texas Tech to a five-game come-from-behind win over the Rhode Island Rams on Friday evening in the Utah Classic.
The Red Raiders (1-1) came out sluggish in the first game thanks impart to a three-game loss to 25th ranked Georgia Tech earlier in the day. Rhode Island (0-2) took the lead at 10-9 and never looked back en route to a 30-28 win. Yolanda Cumbess pounded out seven kills on nine attacks to lead Texas Tech in the first game.
Texas Tech seemingly got back on track in the second game as the Red Raiders led the majority of the game. Rhode Island, however, wouldn't go away quietly as the Rams tied the match four times late in the game. With the game tied at 29, Rhode Island took the lead off a kill by Brooke Ecklund giving the Rams the 30-29 advantage. The Rams took the game off a solo block by Michelle Fulton.
Down two games at the intermission for the second-straight match, the Texas Tech offense and defense finally came alive as the Red Raiders pounded out 14 kills en route to a 30-23 win.
Behind the superior play of senior middle blocker Yolanda Cumbess, the Red Raiders had no problems with Rhode Island in the fourth game as Tech won the game 30-16. Cumbess led all Tech players in the game with seven kills.
In the fifth and final game, it was the play of Angela Mooney late in the game that provided the spark for the Red Raiders. Mooney put down three crucial kills late in the game to extend Tech's lead and the Red Raiders sealed the match with a 15-12 win in game-five.
Pacing the Red Raiders was Yolanda Cumbess who pounded out 21 kills on 41 attacks with four errors for a hitting percentage of .415. Skydra Orzen paced the squad with 61 assists.
Texas Tech returns to action on Saturday in a re-match with Utah beginning at 1 p.m. (MT). Utah knocked Tech out of last year's NCAA Tournament in a five-game match in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
