Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Gonzaga
Tech Volleyball Scores Win
September 11, 2009 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2009
TULSA, Okla. - Freshman outside hitter Miara Cave drilled 15 kills and hit for a .333 efficiency helping to lead Texas Tech (2-5) to a 3-1 win over Gonzaga (2-5) at the first match of the Radisson Airport Tulsa Invitational. Sophomore outside hitter Amanda Dowdy had 20 kills and 10 digs and junior middle blocker Barbara Conceicao had 12 kills (to only two errors) and chipped in three block assists in the effort to highlight the offense which had its best statistical afternoon of the season.
But, like the pair of plane rides through thunderstorms the Red Raiders took to get to Tulsa, the ride was bumpy at times. In the first set, Tech's sloppiness in the frontcourt led to the first two points for the Bulldogs and the squad played from behind throughout until a block assist by Cave and Karlyn Meyers turned the momentum with Gonzaga ahead, 20-18. The first frame ended in a 28-26 win for Tech when Cave slammed home a winner.
The best hitting performance by the team in a set this season, 14 kills, only two errors in 30 attempts, led to a .400 team hitting efficiency and a 25-19 win for the Red Raiders in the second. But, the third set featured that turbulence again and Tech was down 23-13 in no time and went on to lose, 17-25. Reaching for the oxygen masks in time for the fourth set, the Red Raiders pounded 16 kills and committed only five errors and won the fourth and final set, 25-17, behind strong play at the net and in the defensive game.
Setter Meyers was extremely effective in the effort, despite having, "the laziest feet in the world," (jokingly asserted by head coach Trish Knight) as the sophomore finished with 43 assists, five kills (.444 efficiency), nine digs and two block assists.
"All jokes aside, I thought Karlyn's ability to spread the ball to the right hitter in the right moment was big for us, especially when we were struggling to find our rhythm early," Knight said. "Overall, I'm very pleased with the team's effort and with their ability to get it all together after that sloppy start."
Senior defensive specialist Jenn Goehry had 15 digs for the team and classmate Hayley Ball scooped up 10 to help Tech to a season high 57 digs in the match.
Tech will take on Stephen F. Austin tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. before returning to the arena floor for the final match versus host, Tulsa, at 7 p.m. tonight.
