Texas Tech University Athletics
Volleyball Preview: Texas Tech at Oklahoma
September 21, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 21, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech volleyball team hits the road for the first time in Big 12 play when it travels to Norman, Okla. to face the Oklahoma Sooners at 7 p.m. Wednesday in McCasland Field House.
THE SERIES
Texas Tech and Oklahoma will be meeting for the 57th time on Wednesday with Tech controlling a 34-22 all-time advantage in the series. OU has won the last nine matches, however, with Tech's last win coming six year to the day prior to Wednesday's match, Sept. 21, 2005.
THE RED RAIDERS
Texas Tech enters Wednesday's match reeling from two losses in the opening week of Big 12 play. Missouri topped the Red Raiders, 3-0, last Wednesday, while Kansas State defeated Tech, 3-0, on Saturday.
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 136 kills at a 3.68 average per set, which is fifth in the conference. Karlyn Meyers is averaging 8.55 assists per set, seventh highest in the Big 12, but has recently split time with freshman Brandy Huskey, who has posted 32 and 25 assists in each of Tech's last two matches.
On the defensive end, libero Jackie Vincent has been a consistent option for Knight, posting 118 digs on the year, while middle blocker Barbara Conceicao leads the squad with 35 blocks.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma enters Wednesday's match with a full week of rest as the Sooners were off last Saturday. OU is 9-3 on the year and 1-0 in Big 12 play following a 3-0 victory over Colorado last week. Two of the Sooners' three losses have come to teams (Florida State, Tennessee) ranked among the top 25 in the AVCA poll.
The Sooners are led offensively by Suzy Boulavsky with 161 kills. Sarah Freudenrich is the most accurate hitter for OU with a .400 attacking percentage, which is second in the conference. Defensively, Maria Fernanda is sixth in the Big 12 with a 4.26 digs per set average, while Sallie McLaurin has added 1.30 blocks per set, fourth in the league.
The Sooners are coached by Santiago Restrepo, who is 108-86 in his seven seasons in Norman. OU won each of the two meetings against Tech last year by a 3-0 score.
RECAPPING LAST WEEK
Texas Tech extended its losing streak to five matches with a 3-0 loss to Kansas State on Saturday. The Red Raiders dropped the first two sets, 17-25, 19-25, before falling behind 23-12 in the third frame. Tech rallied with nine-straight points to eventually pull to a 24-23 deficit, but the Wildcats received the final point to end the match. The Red Raiders were coming off a 3-0 loss last Wednesday at the hands of Missouri.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Raiders travel to College Station on Saturday to face Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. in Reed Arena. Tech returns to the United Spirit Arena on Sept. 29 to battle the Baylor Bears.
RED RAIDERS MAKE RUN AGAINST K-STATE
Already down two sets and facing a 23-12 deficit in the third, the Red Raiders rallied for nine-straight points to eventually pull to within 24-23 but Kansas State would nail the final point to end Tech's chances for its first comeback of the year. The Red Raiders hope to continue their run on Wednesday as Tech ended the K-State match winning 11 of the last 13 points.
OFFENSE IS LOOKING UP
Despite two losses to open conference play, the Red Raider offense is looking up as Tech recorded its two-highest kill numbers in a 3-set match against Missouri and Kansas State. Tech posted what was its new season high against the Tigers with 39 kills and then surpassed it later in the week against the Wildcats with 40 kills.
RED OUT
The Texas Tech Athletics Department is encouraging fans to wear RED to all home events this season, including Wednesday's match against Missouri. As part of its RED OUT campaign, the department is also placing an emphasis on sportsmanship at all venues through the RAIDER POWER message, which stresses honor, respect, pride and tradition.
