Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Volleyball Takes On Colorado
September 28, 2004 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 28, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - - After a tough road trip, the Texas Tech volleyball team returns home on Wed., Sept. 29, to take on the No.25 Colorado Buffaloes at Frenship High School in Wolfforth, Texas. Free transportation will be available for students to Frenship High School on Wednesday. The buses will leave from the Student Union at 6 p.m. and will return following the match, with free t-shirts for everyone who participates in the free-ride program.
Tech (6-4, 2-2 Big 12) is looking to defeat its first ranked opponent this year while Colorado (7-4, 2-2 Big 12) is looking for its first Big 12-road win of the year.
Tech is coming off a stellar defensive effort this past Saturday claiming its first Big 12-road victory against the Iowa State Cyclones. Tech's 3-1 victory did come from its net play, but rather from its explosive backcourt. Both teams set season high digs as Iowa State led the charge with 101 to Tech's 99 total-team digs. The Red Raiders rebounded from a loss against Kansas earlier in the week, struggling defensively against the then 21st-ranked Jayhawks posting only 37 digs in the losing effort.
The Buffaloes enter the match-up after losing its second-straight match last week against the No.7 Nebraska Cornhuskers 3-0 at home on Wednesday. The Buffaloes rebounded to sweep Baylor at home 3-0 behind a solid performance from junior Maragda Santillana who led the team with 21 kills on a .459 hitting percentage. Colorado's win broke a two-match losing streak as they return to .500 in league play.
CU's Santillana will be Colorado's go-to offensive player against the Red Raiders, as she leads the Buffaloes recording 20-plus kills in three of Colorado's last eight matches. Colorado's Santillana and Allie Griffin are fourth and third, respectively in kills per-game in the Big 12. Santillana pounds down 4.14 kills per-game, while Griffin drops 4.64.
The Red Raiders currently rank third in the Big 12 in opponent-hitting percentage, forcing their Big 12 foes to a .185 attack percentage. Tech's matches thus far have seen their opponents entering the match with an average topping or above a .200. The Red Raiders will need another strong defensive effort tomorrow to stop the Buffaloes who come into the match hitting .232 (ranked fifth in the Big 12) as a team.
The Red and Black will look to the arms of Kelly Johnson who commands the Raider offense with 3.64 kills per-game in league play. Johnson does not carry the load alone as freshman Amy Charlebois and sophomore Kiley Lyons contribute 2.57 and 2.36 kills per-game, respectively, to complete Tech's balanced offense. Leading the Big 12's third-ranked defensive team is junior Desiree Batista with 3.57 digs per-game while also ranking fourth in the Big 12 in aces with 6. Tech's defense, like its offense, is a team effort with senior Johnson (2.93 kpg), senior Daneen Grisham (2.70 kpg), senior Laura Grote (2.57 kpg) and sophomore Lyons (2.29 kpg) rounding out the defensive squad.
First serve for the match against Colorado on Wed., Sept 29, is set for 7 p.m. The match has been moved to the Frenship High School gym due to a scheduled concert taking place at the United Spirit Arena.
