Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Volleyball To Host Senior Day Against Oklahoma
November 21, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
These five Red Raiders will play their final home game in a Tech uniform on Saturday.
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech volleyball will host its final home game of the 2014 season on Saturday, Nov. 22, against Oklahoma. First serve is set for 3 p.m., with a short Senior Day celebration beforehand.
This will be the 66th matchup between the Red Raiders (15-11, 3-11) and Sooners with Tech leading OU (18-8, 8-5), 34-31, all time. OU took the victory in the teams' most recent bout, a four-set battle in Norman on Oc.t 15.
Tech is looking to snap a season-high eight game losing streak overall, and an 18-game losing streak against the Sooners. Tech's last victory against OU came in 2005.
OU's Kierra Holst has given opponents fits with her offensive ability all season, ranking third in the Big 12 in kills per set, with 3.67. Holst also leads the Big 12 in aces per set, averaging 0.50.
Texas Tech has struggled on offense in conference play, and it has led to them ranking ninth in the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.195), but OU ranks ninth in the Big 12 in hitting percentage allowed (.231).
Tech has excelled at stopping opponents' offense, leading in the Big 12 in digs per set (16.65), and fourth in blocks per set (2.36). OU enters the match ranking eighth in the Big 12 in kills per set (13.22), and ninth in assists per set (11.97).
Rachel Brummitt, Breeann David, Mikia Mills, Nicole Hragyil and Sam Podraza will play their last games at the United Supermarkets Arena on Saturday.
Tech has 15 wins this season, which is the program's most since 2011, and has wrapped up the program's first winning season since 2001.
Who's Got Next?
Texas Tech will play in its final regular season game of 2014 on Wednesday, Nov. 26, in Ames, Iowa, against the Iowa State Cyclones. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.
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 32 service aces are tied for third in the Big 12.
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.
Dishing It Out
Junior setter Emily Ruetter, in just over two years, has become one of Tech's most prolific setters in school history. She just fell short of entering Tech's all-time top-10 for single-season assists in 2013, but she ranks seventh career-wise in school history, with 2,729 assists, and is second on the Big 12's all-time active list. Even with the intense competition Tech has at setter in 2014, Ruetter will still find herself climbing the all-time lists.
In The Conference Room
Texas Tech currently leads the Big 12 in digs per set (16.65). The Red Raiders rank third in the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage (.185), and fourth in blocks per set (2.36). Individually, Lauren Douglass ranks eighth in the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.314).
Two Red Raiders rank in the Big 12's top 10 in points per set. Jenna Allen averages 3.60 points per set, good enough for sixth, and Breeann David ranks eighth, at 3.57.
Making An Adjustment
Texas Tech is 16-10 in the third set of matches in 2014. The Red Raiders are outscoring opponents 597-547 in the set following the intermission--their largest margin of any set.
Cardiac Kids
Texas Tech has played six matches that have gone five sets in 2014, and gone 5-1. In four of those matches, the Red Raiders had to play from behind. In two of those four, they erased 0-2 deficits.
Gettin' Diggy With It
In only one season, Rachel Brummitt went from a relatively unknown transfer to a school single-season and career 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. Not only that, but she is now Texas Tech's all-time leader in career digs.
TTU All-Time Dig Leaders
1. Rachel Brummitt (2012-Pres.) 1,600
2. Lisa Hilgers (1995-98) 1,583
3. Ann Romjue (1999-02) 1,520
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
