Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Utah
Raiders Fall Victim to #21 Utah In Utah Classic
September 01, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2001
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The Texas Tech Volleyball team was unable overcome 17 Utah team blocks as the Utes beat Texas Tech 30-15, 23-30, 30-28, 30-24 in the final game of the Utah Classic on Saturday afternoon at Crimson Court.
With the loss, Texas Tech is now 1-2 on the season and will return to Lubbock for a Tuesday home match with TCU. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
The Utah front row simply dominated Texas Tech in the first game of the match as the Utes accounted for eight assist blocks and one solo. Utah (3-0) jumped out to an 11-4 lead early in the game and kept that momentum the rest of the game as the Utes took game-one 30-15.
Texas Tech rebounded in the next game and completely took control early on in the game. Tech jumped out to a 14-7 lead and never relinquished it en route to a 30-23 win tying the match at 1-1 going into the intermission. The Red Raiders were led by the superior play of sophomore Angela Mooney who went a perfect 4 for 4 including three service aces.
Down 28-23 late in the third game, junior Melissa McGehee sent a big hit straight to the Utah middle court sparking a 5-0 Tech scoring run. With the game tied at 28, Jessy Herrera mishandled a Utah serve giving Utah the lead and the Utes took advantage on the next rally and won the game 30-28. Melissa McGehee paced Tech in the game with seven kills and four digs.
Utah finished off the match in the fourth game taking advantage of key Texas Tech errors and by stopping Tech's outside hitters with outstanding blocking. The Utes led by an average of four points for most of the match before winning 30-24.
Yolanda Cumbess and Melissa McGehee led the Texas Tech offense on the afternoon with 14 and 17 kills respectively. Senior Heather Hughes-Justice led the defense with 15 digs.
Note:Yolanda Cumbess was named to the Utah Classic All-Tournament team for her performances over the weekend. Cumbess tallied 43 kills over the weekend and hit .369 collectively.
