Texas Tech University Athletics
Volleyball on the Road to El Paso
August 23, 2006 | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 23, 2006
LUBBOCK, Texas - The 2006 Texas Tech volleyball season will open in El Paso, Texas, at the Ready One Sun Bowl Invitational on Friday, August 25th at the Memorial Gym. Along with the Red Raiders, the tournament features Eastern Michigan, New Mexico State, Sacramento State and host UTEP.
New Mexico State and Eastern Michigan get the tournament started on Friday at 10:30 a.m. (CT). Texas Tech plays in the second match against Sacramento State at 1 p.m.
The Hornets enter as the only team in the field to have competed in last year's NCAA Tournament. Sacramento State was eliminated in the first round by Santa Clara. They enter this season having received two first-place votes in the CSTV/ACVA preseason poll.
Sacramento State returns four starters plus the libero and loses only two. They bring in five newcomers this season.
Tech will play in the final match of Friday against the home team, UTEP, at 8:30 p.m. The Miners enter this season coming off of a 21-10 season with a fourth-place finish in Conference USA. The team returns three starters and will look to replace their five lost starters.
The Red Raiders open the second day of competition on Saturday against Eastern Michigan at 10.30 a.m. The Mid-American Conference competitors come in after a 22-7 2005 season with a first-place finish in the western division of their conference. The Eagles return three starters after losing four. They will also be testing out the abilities of five newcomers during the Sun Bowl Invitational.
The final match of the tournament for the Red Raiders will take place on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against New Mexico State.
The Aggies come in after receiving 25 first-place votes in the CSTV/AVCA preseason coaches poll. They finished their 2005 campaign with a 20-7 record and tied for second in the Western Atlantic Conference (WAC). They return six starters from last season, and will showcase a crop of six newcomers.
The Sun Bowl Invitational kicks off the start of the 2006 season for all of the schools participating.
