Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Volleyball Hosts Kansas State In Big 12 Showdown
October 03, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
Texas Tech volleyball will attempt to notch its third-straight home victory over Kansas State, on Saturday..
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech volleyball will look to pick up win No. 15 on the season this Saturday, as the Red Raiders host Kansas State. First serve is set for 3 p.m., in the United Supermarkets Arena.
This will be the 41st matchup between the Red Raiders (14-1, 2-1) and Wildcats, with Kansas State (14-2, 1-1) holding a 30-10 edge, all time. However, Tech has taken two out of the last three, both being four-set wins in Lubbock.
Texas Tech is coming off a thrilling five-set comeback win at Baylor on Wednesday. The win marked the program's first in Waco since 2004, and gave Tech its best start in conference play since beginning the 2000 conference slate 5-0.
Kansas State finished its non-conference schedule with an impressive 13-1 record, tallying wins over Michigan, Arkansas and Marshall, among others.
With 14 wins each, Texas Tech and Kansas State are tied for the most overall wins in the Big 12 this season.
The Wildcats started conference play with a couple nail-biters, falling to Baylor in five sets and defeating Kansas in five sets. The win at Kansas was Kansas State's first road conference win since 2012.
Kansas State is a force at the net, ranking second in NCAA Division-1, with 177.5 team blocks. K-State's Natali jones leads the Big 12 in blocks per set, with 1.37.
With a win, Texas Tech would guarantee itself a winning season, something the Red Raiders have not experienced since 2001.
Who's Got Next?
Texas Tech will hit the road next Thursday, Oct. 9, to face the No. 2 Texas Longhorns, in Austin. First serve at Gregory Gym is at a time to be determined.
Ace In The Hole
Senior All-American Rachel Brummitt is not only a force to be reckoned with on the serve receive, she can do damage from the service line herself. Her 26 service aces rank third in the Big 12 and 23rd nationally.
Starting Fast
Texas Tech volleyball had a historic start to 2014, winning its first 13 games. The Red Raiders have not started 13-0 since 1996, when they began the season 15-0. Texas Tech's best start in school history is a 16-0 beginning to the 1976 season, a year in which Tech also put together its longest winning streak in school history, 17 games.
Tech's 13-game winning streak was only the eighth double-digit winning streak in school history, and this marked the fifth time such a streak has begun the season. 13-0 was Tech's third-best start in school history.
Tech's 14-1 record is also the school's best start since a 16-1 record to begin the 2000 campaign.
In The Conference Room
Texas Tech currently leads the Big 12 in assists per set (13.05) and digs per set (16.57), while ranking third in kills per set (13.72) and blocks per set (2.53). Individually, Lauren Douglass ranks eighth in the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.336), and Rachel Brummitt leads the conference in digs (301), and ranks third in service aces (26).
A Helping Hand
Texas Tech's top-25 national ranking in assists has a lot to do with the team's depth at setter. Marguerite Grubb ranks seventh in the conference at 10.18 assists per set. Emily Ruetter just misses the games played requirement to appear on the conference stat sheets, but her 262 assists in 27 sets (9.70) would rank eighth in the conference.
Cardiac Kids
Texas Tech has played four matches that have gone five sets in 2014, and won all four. In three of those matches, the Red Raiders have had to play from behind. In two of those three, they erased 0-2 deficits.
Leading Ladies
The Red Raiders have made their way onto this week's edition of the 2014 NCAA stat rankings. Here is a breakdown of where you can find Tech on the national lists (top 40 only, through Oct. 3):
Tech In The NCAA Rankings
| Rank | Name | Stat | Total |
| 19. | Rachel Brummitt | Digs Per Set | 5.25 |
| 23. | Rachel Brummitt | Service Aces | 26 |
| 20. | Texas Tech | Opp. Hitting % (.145) | .145 |
| 24. | Texas Tech | Assists Per Set (Team) | 13.05 |
| 26. | Texas Tech | Digs Per Set (Team) | 16.57 |
Gettin' Diggy With It
In only one season, Rachel Brummitt went from a relatively unknown transfer to a school record holder and one of the top liberos in the Big 12. She has already broken her own school and conference records with a 39-dig performance in four sets against Air Force. She has been tabbed as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice this season. Her five weekly defensive awards over her career rank fifth in Big 12 history. She only needs 169 digs to become the school's all-time leader, after already logging 301 this season.
TTU All-Time Dig Leaders
1. Lisa Hilgers (1995-98) 1,583
2. Ann Romjue (1999-02) 1,520
3. Rachel Brummitt (2012-Pres.) 1,415
4. Cristine Martin (1993-97) 1,323
5. Melissa McGehee (1999-02) 1,270
6. Jenn Goehry (2006-09) 1,229
7. Skydra Orzen (1998-01) 1,221
8. Chris Martin (1988-91) 1,152
9. Sheila Soloman (1987-90) 1,139
10. Sabrina Zenon (1988-91) 1,131
