Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Volleyball Looks to Down The Bears In Waco
October 12, 2004 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 12, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech volleyball team will head to Waco, Texas, for a Wednesday match up against the Baylor Bears at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center. The Red Raiders (6-7, 2-5 Big 12) are looking to snap a three-match losing streak against the Bears (9-9, 3-5 Big 12) who are currently just one game ahead of the Red Raiders in the Big 12 standings.
The two teams will meet on the court for the 56th time in their respective program histories, with Tech leading the series 46-9. Tech holds a considerable lead over the Bears when on the road, winning 23 out of 30 matches that the two teams have played on Baylor's home court. Tech has only been in one situation this season where a match has gone five games, but might be adding another to that tally as five of the last seven matches between the two long-time rivals have been decided in five. Tech holds an edge in five-game matches 5-1, but is dead even 5-5 with the Bears in the last 10 match ups.
Tech, who is 1-2 on the road in Big 12 play, looks to once again return to the winning column with a road win against the Bears. A Tech win would put the Red Raiders in a tie with Baylor for eighth in the Big 12 standings.
Tech is coming off a loss against the 11th-ranked Texas Longhorns in a three-game sweep at home. The Longhorns who have since moved up to ninth-place in the rankings, a tie for their highest ranking in five years, dominated the Red Raiders with their size at the net out-hitting the Red and Black 56-38. Tech's Kelly Johnson led the team in the effort with 13 kills, accompanied by junior Desiree Batista in double digits with 14 digs. Freshman Amy Charlebois combined with senior Laura Grote to round out Tech's double-digit appearances in the losing effort with 11 digs and 29 assists, respectively.
Baylor recently defeated Iowa State on the road 3-1, after dropping the first game to the Cyclones 30-23. Baylor struggled against IU in the match, just edging out the Cyclones in game three 34-32/ Baylor went on to take the match with a game-four victory 30-22. Nicole LeBlanc and Desiree Young-Guilliard lead the BU offense averaging 3.00 and 2.89 kills per-game.
While the Bears are currently just in front of the Red Raiders in the standings, they have achieved one more feat the Red and Black have been unable to do all season, beat a ranked opponent. BU downed the then ranked No.24 Kansas Jayhawks 3-1 at home just two weeks ago. KU is a team Tech fell to in their second Big 12 match of the season 3-0. Tech, however not overlooking Baylor's talent, hopes to use its balanced offense to overcome Wednesday's opponent.
First serve is set for 7 p.m. in Waco, Texas, as the Red Raiders begin their Big 12 campaign this week on the road before returning home against the Kansas State Wildcats on Sat., Oct.16, at 7 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena.
