Texas Tech University Athletics
Volleyball Preview: Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma
October 22, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 22, 2010
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Dig for the Cure Comments
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech volleyball team begins the second round of the Big 12 schedule this Saturday when it faces the Oklahoma Sooners in the "Dig for the Cure" match at the United Spirit Arena. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. and all fans wearing pink will be admitted for only $1.
DIG FOR THE CURE
Texas Tech fans are encouraged to fill the United Spirit Arena with pink on Saturday for the "Dig for the Cure" match. The Red Raiders will be wearing specially-made pink uniforms by Under Armour that will be auctioned following the match. Fans can pledge certain amounts per number of digs in the match. All proceeds will benefit the Lubbock-based Susan G. Koman organization.
THE SERIES
Tech will be looking to end a 10-match losing streak to the Sooners that dates back to the 2005 season. Despite the losing streak, Tech still maintains a 34-23 all-time advantage in the series.
THE RED RAIDERS
The Red Raiders are currently riding a four-match losing streak that has dropped Tech to 3-16 overall and 1-9 in Big 12 play. Tech's last win came in a 3-2 victory over Kansas on Oct. 2. The Red Raiders have played well in front of the home crowd lately as they came close to defeating Colorado on Oct. 13 but fell in five sets.
Preseason All-Big 12 selection Amanda Dowdy has powered the Tech offense with 3.98 kills per set and 4.48 points per set, both ranked fifth in the conference. Dowdy has led the team in kills in all but two matches this season, and her 4.43 kills per set in conference play leads the Big 12. Karlyn Meyers is currently eighth in the conference with a 9.02 assists per set average. Miara Cave and Aubree Piper are Tech's next offensive options besides Dowdy as the duo is averaging 1.88 and 1.87 kills per set each.
On the defensive end, libero Jackie Vincent has been a consistent option for head coach Trish Knight, posting 213 digs on the year, while middle blocker Barbara Conceicao leads the squad with 1.00 blocks per set, 10th-highest in the conference. Dowdy has added 154 digs of her own.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
After winning five of its last six matches, Oklahoma is currently tied for third overall in the Big 12 standings with a 7-3 conference slate. The Sooners, who are 15-6 overall, have only fallen to the Big 12's three ranked squads, Iowa State, Nebraska, and Texas. Oklahoma travels well with a 7-1 record on the road.
Suzy Boulavsky leads the OU offense with 3.46 kills per set, while Sarah Freudenrich is averaging 2.41 k/s and a .353 hitting percentage. Brianne Barker, an Amarillo native, is averaging 10.19 assists per set, while on the defensive end, Maria Fernanda has posted 4.20 digs per set.
The Sooners defeated Tech, 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 27-25, 17-25), on Oct. 23 in Norman. Amanda Dowdy led Tech with 14 kills and 11 digs, while Miara Cave added eight kills and Jackie Vincent posted a team-high 12 digs.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Raiders play the first of their final four home matches at the United Spirit Arena this Wednesday against the Texas A&M Aggies. First serve is slated for 6:30 p.m.
RECAPPING THE LAST MATCH
Facing likely its toughest opponent all season, Tech could not contain a powerful Nebraska offense last Wednesday as the Huskers rolled to a 3-0 victory in Lincoln. Amanda Dowdy led the Tech offense with 11 kills while Miara Cave added seven of her own. Jackie Vincent powered the back line with 10 digs.
TOUGH STRETCH COMPLETE
With its match against Nebraska complete, Tech just finished likely its toughest portion of the 2010 schedule as the Red Raiders traveled to the Big 12's three ranked schools, Iowa State, Texas, and Nebraska, in three of their last four matches.
BURGESS TO FACE FORMER TEAMMATES
With the success of Amarillo High School over the last decade, freshman Sheridan Burgess was bound to face several of her former teammates during the Big 12 schedule. On the opposite side of the net Saturday will be junior Brianne Barker and freshman Eden Williams, both Amarillo High graduates.
DOWDY'S NIGHT TO REMEMBER - PART 2
For those who considered Amanda Dowdy's 25-kill performance against Kansas the best of her career, they might have to reconsider their opinion now. Dowdy unleashed a Texas Tech record 37 kills against Colorado while also adding a career-high 20 digs for her eighth career double-double and fifth one of the season. The junior attempted 87 attacks on the night, six shy of the Tech and Big 12 record. The conference record for most kills in a match is 40.
DOWDY TOPS IN THE BIG 12
Amanda Dowdy's 37 kills easily surpassed the previous Big 12 season high of 29 set by Paola Ampudia of Missouri in the Tigers' 3-1 loss to Oklahoma. Through four sets against Colorado, Dowdy had 30 kills before adding seven more in the final frame. Her 87 attempts also easily topped the previous conference high of 73 by Kelsey Black of Texas A&M.
DON'T FORGET MEYERS
With all the individual success in the Kansas and Colorado matches, some may forget about the person who calls all the action - the setter. Karlyn Meyers recorded 48 assists against the Jayhawks and added a career-high 67 assists against the Buffaloes, trumping her previous high of 51 against Texas State earlier this season.
ROBERTS PROVIDES AN ADDED SPARK
Alexxa Roberts seems to know the best way to provide a spark. Just over a week after posting a career-high nine blocks in Tech's victory over Kansas, the senior was at it again against Colorado, but this time on the offensive end. Roberts finished with a career-high 14 kills in the match, providing setter Karlyn Meyers another option besides Amanda Dowdy.
PIPER FINDING HER GROOVE
Aubree Piper may be finding her groove midway through her freshman season. The Amarillo native has posted 38 kills over the last three matches, but in the process, has been Tech's most accurate hitter, posting a .400 hitting percentage against Kansas and a .312 percentage at Iowa State. She added a career-high 13 kills against Colorado. The freshman is currently third on the team with 1.87 kills per set.
SPEAKING OF DOWDY...
After two and a half seasons at one of Tech's primary offensive targets, junior Amanda Dowdy is inching closer to joining the top 10 for several career categories on the school's all-time chart, namely kills and total attempts. Here is a rundown of where the Lexington, Texas native currently stands:
Career Kills
1. Kelly Johnson (2001-04) - 1,925
2. Melissa McGehee (1992-02) - 1,333
9. Kim Gosselin (1989-92) - 962
10. Jennifer Cohn (1992-95) - 957
Amanda Dowdy (2008-Pres.) - 880
Career Attack Attempts
1. Kelly Johnson (2001-04) - 5,142
2. Melissa McGee (1999-02) - 3,368
9. Kiley Lyons (2003-06) - 2,680
10. Brande Brown (1994-97) - 2,600
Amanda Dowdy (2008-Pres.) - 2,402
VINCENT SOLID AT LIBERO
Jackie Vincent continues to shine at the libero position with the senior digging 14 balls against Missouri and 18 against Kansas State, one shy of matching her career high. Vincent posted 15 digs against Baylor and another 13 digs versus Kansas as she now has 213 digs on the year. The senior has been in double-digits in seven of Tech's previous nine matches, including 18 digs against Colorado, one shy of her career set earlier in the year against Texas State.
