Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Continue Road Swing at Louisiana Tech Invitational
September 08, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2011
RUSTON, La. - In the midst of an eight-match road trip, Texas Tech looks to extend a six-match winning streak this weekend when it travels to Ruston, La. for the Louisiana Tech Invitational where the Red Raiders will battle Southeastern Louisiana, Grambling State, and the host Lady Techsters over the course of Friday and Saturday at the Thomas Assembly Center.
| TOURNAMENT INFORMATION | |
| Dates | Friday, September 9 - Saturday, September 10 |
| Location | Ruston, La. (Thomas Assembly Center) |
| Tournament Schedule | Friday, Sept. 2 Texas Tech vs. Southeastern Louisiana - Noon Louisiana Tech vs. Grambling State - 2 p.m. Texas Tech vs. Grambling State - 5 p.m. Louisiana Tech vs. Southeastern Louisiana - 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 |
| Radio | None |
| On The Web | Live video and audio available through Louisiana Tech Athletics (Subscription) |
TEXAS TECH OFF TO BEST START SINCE 2003
The Red Raiders enter Tuesday night's match boasting a 6-1 record, marking the program's best start since the 2003 squad rallied off eight-straight wins to start the season.
THE SERIES
• Texas Tech and Southeastern Louisiana have met twice in school history with the Red Raiders winning both matches in 3-0 sweeps. The two schools last met on Sept. 4, 2009 during the University of New Orleans Tournament.
• Friday afternoon's match against Grambling State will be the second in school history after the two teams met earlier this season during the TCU Invitational where the Red Raiders took a 3-0 victory.
• Texas Tech and Louisiana Tech will be renewing a series that has not been played since 1997. In the three previous meetings between the two schools, Tech has won nine of 10 sets, compiling a 3-0 record against the Lady Techsters in the process. This will mark Tech's first trip to Ruston as all three previous encounters have come in Lubbock.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Raiders will return to the Dallas/Fort Worth area next weekend to take part in the UT-Arlington Hilton Invitational where Tech will face Prairie View A&M, Louisiana-Lafayette, and the host Mavericks.
TECH FACES GRAMBLING STATE ONCE AGAIN
The Red Raiders will face Grambling State for the second time this season Friday as Tech previously swept the Tigers in three sets in the finale of the TCU Invitational. The match will mark the first time Tech has faced a non-conference opponent twice in a season since 1996 when the Red Raiders defeated SMU in two neutral site contests.
NOTABLES
• Texas Tech is currently riding a six-match winning streak, the school's longest run since winning six-straight from Sept. 2-10, 2006. The Red Raiders have a chance to extend that streak to nine-straight this weekend which has not been previously accomplished since the start of the 1997 season.
• The Red Raiders come into the match having swept four of its last five matches by a 3-0 decision. The lone match to go an extra set was against Morehead State in the finale of the Texas Tech Invitational.
• Texas Tech will be looking for its second tournament title of the season this weekend, a feat that has not been accomplished since the 2006 squad won both the UTPA and South Florida Invitationals.
• Texas Tech's six wins on the season already matches its combined total from the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
• Texas Tech's 3-0 homestand marked its best record at home to start a season since the 2004 squad opened the year with four-straight wins in Lubbock.
• Texas Tech opponents are only hitting .082 against the Red Raiders on the year, the lowest average among Big 12 Conference schools. Only UConn has posted a hitting percentage above .200 against the Red Raiders this season.
PIPER HONORED ON BIG 12 WEEKLY AWARDS
Prior to Tuesday night's match at Texas-Pan American, sophomore Aubree Piper was named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week for her performance during the Texas Tech Invitational. Piper finished with 21 blocks to go along with 15 kills on the weekend, matching her single-game highs for total blocks and block assists in the process. No Tech player had been previously honored with a Big 12 weekly award since Amanda Dowdy was named the conference Rookie of the Week on Sept. 15, 2008.
FLORA STARTS TECH CAREER IN STYLE
Of the eight head coaches in school history, only two have better records in their first seven matches than Don Flora. Donna Martin began her tenure in 1985 with a school-record nine-straight wins, while Nancy Todd won eight-straight to start her head coaching career in 2003.
DOWDY CREEPING UP RECORD BOOK
Through only seven matches, Amanda Dowdy has continued her trek up the school's record book as the senior is currently third for career kills (1,127) and fourth in attempts with 3,148. She needs 206 kills to catch Melissa McGehee (1999-02) for second all-time, while she will likely move to third all-time in attempts this weekend as she trails Christine Martin (1993-97) by only 33 swings.
MEYERS MOVING ON UP TOO
Like Dowdy, Karlyn Meyers faces the possibility of moving up the school's record book as the senior setter recently became just the eighth player in school history to reach 2,000 assists over a career. She enters this weekend trailing Mary Loescher (1985-87) for seventh all-time with 2,075 career assists, 264 shy of Loescher's mark.
