Texas Tech University Athletics
Volleyball Preview: Texas Tech at No. 10 Iowa State
October 05, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 5, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - With its first Big 12 victory under its belt, the Texas Tech volleyball team looks for victory No. 2 Wednesday night as the Red Raiders face 10th-ranked Iowa Sate at 7 p.m. in the Ames High School gymnasium.
THE SERIES
The Red Raiders have traditionally dominated the series with Iowa State, leading 20-11 all-time, but the Cyclones have closed the gap in recent years by winning seven-straight matches. Tech has dropped each of its last five matches in Ames.
THE RED RAIDERS
Texas Tech claimed its first conference victory last Saturday, defeating Kansas, 3-2, to gain some momentum as the Red Raiders continue Big 12 play. The win improved Tech to 3-12 on the year and 1-5 in conference.
Tech, under the direction of second-year head coach Trish Knight, is led offensively by Preseason All-Big 12 selection Amanda Dowdy, who has recorded 194 kills at a 3.73 average per set, which is fifth in the conference. Dowdy is also fifth in the Big 12 in points per set with 4.30 per frame. Karlyn Meyers is averaging 8.60 assists per set, 10th highest in the conference.
On the defensive end, libero Jackie Vincent has been a consistent option for Knight, posting 167 digs on the year, while middle blocker Barbara Conceicao leads the squad with 1.14 blocks per set, sixth in the Big 12.
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
A year after advancing to the Sweet 16, Iowa State continues to be one of the country's top teams as the Cyclones enter Wednesday's match 10-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big 12, and ranked 10th in the country. The Cyclones have played five ranked opponents so far, going 2-3 in those matches with the three losses coming at the hands of No. 13 Florida (3-1), No. 4 Nebraska (3-1), and No. 13 Texas (3-2) last weekend.
Led by senior outside hitter Victoria Henson, Iowa State leads the Big 12 in hitting percentage, totaling a .276 percentage. Henson is tops among Big 12 players averaging 4.00 kills per set, while her .291 hitting percentage is just outside the conference's top 10 list. The Cyclones have also received significant contributions on the attack from Carly Jenson (2.96 k/s) and Jamie Straube (2.45 k/s). Alison Landwehr ranks second in the Big 12 with 11.28 assists per set.
Defensively, Ashley Mass is sixth in the conference with 4.28 digs per set, while Straube ranks seventh with 1.11 blocks per match. The Cyclones are coached by Christy Johnson-Lynch, who is 115-61 during her six seasons in Ames.
Wednesday's match will be played at Ames High School due to the massive amounts of rain that hit the Ames area in August, leaving Iowa State's regular home, Hilton Coliseum, damaged and in need of repair. The Cyclones are 6-1 at Ames High School this year.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Raiders will take a week off before facing Colorado on Oct. 13 in the United Spirit Arena. The match is slated for a 6:30 p.m. start.
RECAPPING THE LAST MATCH
Tech snapped a 64-match conference losing streak when it defeated Kansas, 3-2, on Saturday night. After losing the first set, Tech rebounded to take the second and third frame. Even after Kansas won the fourth set to prolong the match, the Red Raiders were resilient and quickly ended the Jayhawks chances of a comeback with an early 5-1 lead that never got away.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER FOR DOWDY
Prior to Tech's match versus Kansas, no one on the Tech staff could definitely say what kind of impact Amanda Dowdy would have in the match. Coming off an ankle injury the match before against Baylor, Dowdy put away any doubt early as the junior posted a double-double in only two sets. The junior finished with a career-high 25 kills and 15 digs, while also posting a season-high .283 hitting percentage. The double-double was Dowdy's fourth of the season and seventh of her Tech career.
ROBERTS PROVIDES SPARK OFF THE BENCH
With Tech struggling midway through the first set, head coach Trish Knight inserted Alexxa Roberts into the lineup, a move that paid dividends. Roberts finished with a career-high nine blocks, two of which were solo blocks.
PIPER, CAVE ADD TO OFFENSIVE ATTACK
Even with all the strong offensive performances against Kansas, Aubree Piper and Miara Cave were able to record two of their best performances of the year. Piper, who had numerous friends and family in attendance, posted a career-high 11 kills, while Cave added 12 kills of her own, three shy of her career high.
DON'T FORGET MEYERS
With all the individual success in the Kansas match, some may forget about the person who calls all the action - the setter. Karlyn Meyers recorded 48 assists against the Jayhawks, three off her career high set earlier this year against Texas State.
DEFENSE STEPS UP AGAINST JAYHAWKS
One of the bigger factors behind Tech's victory over Kansas was the Jayhawks .090 hitting percentage, the lowest for a Tech opponent this season. Tech led the match in practically every statistical category, including a 30-16 advantage in blocks. The Red Raiders kept the Jayhawks on their heals with nine service aces in the match, four more than their previous season high set against Texas State.
TOUGH STRETCH APPROACHING
Tech is approaching one of its most difficult stretches of the season, facing three ranked opponents over the next four matches, all on the road. The Red Raiders face 10th-ranked Iowa State on Wednesday and then travels to No. 11 Texas on Oct. 16 and No. 3 Nebraska on Oct. 20. Tech battles Colorado on Oct. 13 in the only home match during the span.
