Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Villanova
Tech Comes From Behind to Edge Wildcats
September 01, 2007 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas - Facing a 2-1 deficit, Texas Tech stormed back to win two-straight games and edge Villanova 3-2 (30-20, 28-30, 24-30, 30-25 and 16-14) Friday night at the Red Raider Round Up. With the victory Tech improved to 3-1 on the season.
Four Red Raiders recorded double-digit kills to lead a balanced Tech hitting attack. Amy Gandy and Emily Ziegler each recorded double-doubles to lead the way. Gandy knocked down 14 kills to go along with 11 digs and a game-high 8 blocks to pick up her first double-double of the season. Ziegler recorded a career-best 12 kills to go along with 46 assists. Alicia Ostmeyer added 14 kills on .440 hitting and seven blocks, while Michelle Flores added 12 kills from her outside position.
While kills filled the stat sheets, big blocks late in the match may have proven to be the deciding factor for Tech. Gandy and Ostmeyer each came up with stuffs at key moments to squash several Wildcat rallies and fuel the Red Raider attackers.
While the action was close late, game one was not. Tech used a strong defense to come away with the 30-20 win.
TTU carried the energy from the first game over into the early stages of game two and looked to take control of the match completely. It would not happen, though, as the Wildcats took advantage of the Red Raiders mishaps to climb back in the game and take the lead late. Tech closed the gap with a small rally, but VU closed out the game with the 28-30 win.
Coming out of the locker room, the Wildcats attacked quickly and took a 10-7 lead early on to capture the momentum. The Red Raiders came up with several small rallies and even cut the deficit to 23-21 after a timeout. They would not be enough though, as VU took the game 24-30.
TTU came out hot in the early goings of game four and pulled out to a 6-3 lead. The Wildcats came back with a couple of small runs of their own to tie the game at 11 apiece. Tech came back quick, however, and went up 18-12 after a pair Ostmeyer blocks. VU looked several times to try to claw their way back in to the game, but the Red Raiders held strong and took the 30-35 win.
With the match tied 2-2, game five was back-and-forth almost the entire way. VU took a 9-7 lead and looked as if it might take the momentum. A big defensive block from TTU's Laura Gottschalk evened it at nine. After the two exchanged points for the next few minutes, an Ostmeyer kill put Tech up 15-14. Gandy slammed down a kill a short time later to give the Red Raiders the come-from-behind victory.
The Wildcats were led by Alona Cherkez's 22 kill-14 dig double-double. Outside hitter Kacy Sellers added 14 kills on .452 hitting.
Tech will be back in action at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon when it takes on Lamar. Villanova and SMU will kick off a full slate of games at 10:30 a.m.. VU will battle Lamar at 5 p.m. before the Red Raiders face in-state foe SMU in the nightcap.
Match One - Lamar vs. SMU
Molli Abel knocked down 14 kills to help lead the Mustangs to a 3-0 (30-24, 30-21, 30-25) sweep over Lamar in the opening game of the Round Up.
