Texas Tech University Athletics
Volleyball Kicks Off Big 12 Conference Action
September 10, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2001
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TEXAS TECH PREPARES FOR CONFERENCE OPENER Texas Tech will kick-off Big 12 Conference action this week when the squad hosts rival Texas in a 7 p.m. match on Wednesday night at the United Spirit Arena. Texas Tech will play conclude a seven-game home stretch on Thursday with a 7 p.m. non-conference tilt with New Mexico.
Texas Tech will be looking for its first conference-opening win since 1997 when the Red Raiders beat Missouri 3-0. Texas Tech fell to Baylor in five games last year in the first Big 12 game of the season for the Raiders.
SCOUTING TEXAS
The Texas Longhorns entered a new era this season as Jerritt Elliott was named head coach in April of 2001. Elliott served as the interim head coach at USC the previous two season after leading the Women of Troy to a 50-12 record and their first Final Four appearance in 15 years.
The Longhorns are 5-1 on the season which includes a win over then 11th ranked BYU (3-2) on Sept. 1st.
Texas is led by freshman middle blocker Bethany Howden who averages 4.17 kills per game and 1.11 blocks per game. The Longhorn offense is led by setter Abbie Schindler who averages 11.89 assists per game.
Texas went 1-1 this past weekend in the Aggie Invitational at Texas A&M after falling 3-0 to Stanford in the first match before beating Florida State 3-1. Texas leads the all-time series with Texas Tech 49-9-2.
ORZEN GRABS MVP HONORS
Senior setter Skydra Orzen went home with most valuable player honors this weekend after a dazzling performance in the Four Points Sheraton/Red Raider Classic.
Orzen tallied 225 assists, 39 digs and 19 kills over the course of three matches to give her the MVP distinction. Orzen's 225 assists in four matches gave her an impressive 15.00 assists per-game average.
Orzen put up her first career triple double against Ohio as she posted 10 kills, 67 assists and 11 digs.
Texas Tech had three other players named to the all-tournament team in Yolanda Cumbess, Angela Mooney and Jessy Herrera (Defensive Specialist Award). The all-tournament distinction was the second for Yolanda Cumbess as she earned the same honors at the Utah Classic.
ERRORS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE TECH
Although Texas Tech is 6-2 on the year, the Red Raiders have not adjusted yet to the new rally scoring format that was implemented this season. Texas Tech continues to struggle with errors as Tech has committed 239 through eight matches while opponents have committed just 187.
The Red Raiders are averaging 30 errors a match while opponents are averaging 23. This seven error difference has been providing plenty of sleepless nights for Tech head coach Jeff Nelson as his team is hitting just .203.
Tech committed at least 30 errors in every match this weekend but one (SFA-29) en route to 129 total errors for the entire tournament.
Senior Heather Hughes-Justice leads the squad with 55 errors while junior Melissa McGehee is close behind with 54.
LAST YEAR AGAINST TEXAS
Texas Tech is currently riding a two-game winning streak against the Texas Longhorns which is the longest win streak in school history. Texas Tech beat Texas in Austin last season for the first time in 23 years and then swept the Horns in Lubbock to give Tech its first-ever win streak over Texas.
TEAM NIGHT SCHEDULED PROMO FOR TEXAS
The scheduled promotion for the Texas match on Wednesday night will be "Team Night" as groups of 10 or more will be able to get into the match for just $1. For more information, please call Texas Tech External Operations at 742-1195.
EYEING THE RECORD BOOKS
Senior outside hitter Heather Hughes-Justice is once again on the verge of setting a new Texas Tech service ace record. Last season, Hughes-Justice set a single-season record for service aces with 75. She needs just two more aces to become the career record holder at Texas Tech. The current career leader is Cristine Martin who tallied 165 service aces between 1993 and 1997.
Thanks to a 277-assist performance by senior setter Skydra Orzen this past week, she is now in third place on the career assist list at Tech. She needs just 43 more assists to move into second place.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO
The New Mexico Lobos will come to Lubbock on Thursday night for a non-conference match at the United Spirit Arena at 7 p.m. The Lobos are 2-5 overall with wins over UTEP and McNeese State.
The Lobos are led by sophomore MB/OH Anna Reines who is hitting .200 (88-41-235). New Mexico's offense is paced by junior setter Kelly Griffin who averages 9.96 assists per game.
The Lobos are coached by Tom Peterson. Texas Tech leads the all-time series with New Mexico 8-6.
