Texas Tech University Athletics
Volleyball Preview: Texas Tech at Texas A&M
September 24, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 24, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech volleyball team hits the road once again this weekend as the Red Raiders face in-state rival Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night in Reed Arena.
THE SERIES
Texas Tech and Texas A&M will be continuing a longstanding series Saturday night as the two schools with be meeting for the 80th time, which is tied with the University of Texas for the longest-active series in Tech history. The Aggies have controlled the series as of late with six-straIght wins over the Red Raiders, improving their lead in the matchup to 50-29 all-time.
THE RED RAIDERS
Texas Tech enters Saturday's match coming off possibly one of its best performances as of late in its 3-1 loss to Oklahoma on Wednesday. The Red Raiders were tied 16-16 in each set and won the third frame before eventually dropping the match in the fourth set. Tech is 2-10 on the year and 0-3 in Big 12 play.
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 150 kills at a 3.66 average per set, which is fifth in the conference. Karlyn Meyers is averaging 8.60 assists per set, ninth highest in the Big 12. Miara Cave has performed well since the opening of conference play with 26 kills over the three matches, including 11 kills against Kansas State a little under a week ago.
On the defensive end, libero Jackie Vincent has been a consistent option for Knight, posting 130 digs on the year, while middle blocker Barbara Conceicao leads the squad with 38 blocks.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
Following its midweek break from Big 12 play, Texas A&M comes into Saturday's match with a week's worth of rest after falling to Kansas, 3-2, last Saturday in Lawrence. The Aggies opened Big 12 play with a convincing 3-0 victory over then-No. 8 Texas in College Station. Texas A&M has been swept only twice this season against 23rd-ranked LSU and then to Missouri State.
Kelsey Black leads the Aggie attack with 173 kills on the year at a 4.02 kill per set average, which is the second-highest in the Big 12. Lindsey Miller is adding 2.33 kills per set to go along with her 44 total blocks for the year, one off the team lead owned by Stephanie Minnerly. Setter Allie Sawatzky is averaging 9.85 assists per set, fourth-highest in the conference, while Tori Mellinger leads the Aggie defense with 163 digs on the year.
The Aggies are averaging more than 1700 fans at home matches in Reed Arena this year, while boasting a 3-2 record on its home court. Texas A&M is coached by Laurie Corbellie, who is 370-174 in her 18th season in College Station. The Aggies have swept Tech in each of the last six matches between the two schools.
RECAPPING THE LAST MATCH
Despite winning its first set in Big 12 play, the Red Raiders were unable to sustain enough runs to top Oklahoma on Wednesday night as the Sooners topped the Red Raiders, 3-1, in Norman. Amanda Dowdy posted her sixth career double-double and led Tech in its third-set victory with 10 kills in the frame alone. Justine Young recorded nine kills and a season-high eight blocks, while Miara Cave and Caroline Courtney each added eight kills. Jackie Vincent led the Tech defense with 24 digs.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Raiders return to the United Spirit Arena next Wednesday to face the Baylor Bears in the first of two home matches during the week. Tech faces the Kansas Jayhawks the following Saturday (Oct. 2).
QUICK TURNAROUND
Like all teams in the Big 12, the Red Raiders face a quick turnaround this weekend after arriving in Lubbock at 4:45 a.m. Thursday morning from its trip to Norman. Tech leaves for College Station late Friday afternoon.
YOUNG HAS SOLID OUTING AT OU
In Wednesday's match at Oklahoma, Justine Young posted her best performance since facing UTSA as part of the Rice Invitational. Young notched nine kills and matched her season-high with eight blocks in the contest.
BURGESS MEETS FORMER PREP TEAMMATE
Tech freshman Sheridan Burgess will see a familiar face opposite of the net Saturday in A&M outside hitter Kelsey Black, who starred at Amarillo High School with Burgess. Black was a senior on Amarillo's 2007 state championship squad, while Burgess was a sophomore member of the team.
CLOSER THAN IT LOOKS
Despite three losses to open the Big 12 and only one set victory during that period, head coach Trish Knight still has several positives to look at as the Red Raiders have been competitive in each set. The Red Raiders came close to taking two sets against Missouri and then nearly completed an improbable third-set comeback against Kansas State with a nine-point run with the score 23-12. Tech was tied 16-16 in all four sets against Oklahoma on Wednesday and won the third set.
DOWDY POSTS THIRD DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Amanda Dowdy posted her third double-double of the season against Oklahoma as the junior recorded 14 kills and 11 digs. Dowdy has already matched her total from a year ago, giving her six now over her Tech career.
OFFENSE IS LOOKING UP
Despite three 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, while nearing matching its season high for a 4-set match against Oklahoma. 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. The Red Raiders recorded 47 kills against Oklahoma on Wednesday night.
