Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Baylor
Tech Tough But Falls 3-2 to Baylor
October 15, 2003 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 15, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - Tech played five games, only the second time of the season, tonight as they lost 3-2 (27-30, 30-28, 27-30, 30-28, 10-15) to the Baylor Bears at the United Spirit Arena. Both teams had trouble getting play started as Tech recorded 17 service errors and Baylor recorded 15.
Tech played its fourth home match of the season going point for point in game one. A Tech block evened out the score to 7-7. Kelly Johnson led the team with three blocks while Christina Miller contributed two. The teams battled back and forth to 13 all. Breanna Pursley knocked two kills to bring the score to 16-16. Three serving errors, two for Baylor and one for Tech, would leave the score at 25-26. A kill by Johnson and a block assist by Raven Garrett and Johnson cut the score to 26-29, however, Baylor scored the game point, winning 30-26.
The teams again swapped points until Pursley killed a ball to tie the score up at seven in game two. Pursley had a phenomenal showing with a career-high 22 kills and 21 digs. Her match dig count is the second most on the season for the team. Tech got its first lead of the game at 9-8 when Johnson logged a kill. Johnson finished the game with a match-high 30 kills as well as 15 digs. Pursley stopped a 4-0 run with a kill and an ace to bring the score to 16-17. With four straight Tech points and an exchange of serves, the game was tied up at 28. A Baylor error would lead to a Tech game win, breaking a six-game losing streak.
Tech went on multiple runs in game three including a 3-0 run with a kill off Laura Grote. Grote finished the match with 57 assists, 13 digs and also snuck in eight kills, a career high. Baylor tied up the score at 16 with the lead switching through out the game. Game three was full of serving errors of which Baylor had 15 and Tech had 17, a season high for the Red Raiders. Baylor got the final say of the game, winning 30-27.
A Red Raider lead came at 10-9 and the teams would tie at 12 in game four. Tech got a 16-14 lead over the Bears, the first time either team had more than a one-point lead. The momentum would continue when at 20-16 Tech had its biggest lead of the match, leading to a Baylor time out. The Bears evened out the score at 20-20. The teams swapped points but an ace by Katie Halley, her first of conference play, took the lead. Tech fought hard for two points bringing the score to 29-28 with Johnson sealing the win with a kill, leading the team into game five.
Baylor came out strong in game five going on several major runs. Tech tallied five kills in game five but were shut down by the Bears losing 15-10. Tech hit .227 on the day, the second best in conference this season.
Tech (8-9, 0-8) will continue play this weekend as they head to Austin, Texas to take on the Longhorns Saturday at 7 p.m.
