Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Volleyball Hosts TCU To Open Big 12 Play
September 23, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 23, 2014
This will be the 10th matchup between the programs. The Red Raiders hold the all-time series lead against the Horned Frogs, 5-4, including taking both matches in 2013. The Red Raiders downed TCU in a five-set thriller in Fort Worth, then swept the Frogs on Senior Day.
TCU is 10-4 on the season after navigating a non-conference schedule that included a national powerhouse. The Horned Frogs traveled to University Park, Pa., in their 2014 opener, where they were defeated by defending national champion Penn State, in three sets.
TCU was a force on the offensive end in non-conference play, sporting an overall .281 hitting percentage, which is good enough for second place in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs also rank second in the league in service aces, notching 1.58 per set.
Texas Tech opens Big 12 play at home for the third time in four years under head coach Don Flora. The Red Raiders will look to reverse a trend of six-straight defeats in conference openers--the last victory coming in 2007, against Colorado. Tech is 5-13 all-time in Big 12 openers.
Texas Tech notched two Big 12 weekly awards this week, as Rachel Brummitt's Big 12 four-set record 39 digs against Air Force propelled her to be named the Defensive Player of the Week, and Lauren Douglass, the conference's leader in hitting percentage, recorded a career-high 17 kills against Weber State on her way to being named Big 12 Co-Rookie of the Week.
Who's Got Next?
Texas Tech will host its second-straight match to open Big 12 play, as the Red Raiders face West Virginia, Saturday, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m., in the United Supermarkets Arena.
Marquee Wins
At the Lone Star Showdown, Don Flora picked up his 50th win as Tech's head coach when the Red Raiders came back from 0-2 to beat Weber State, and Saturday's 3-1 victory against Air Force marked the 800th win for the Texas Tech volleyball program.
Starting Fast
Texas Tech volleyball is off to a historic start. The Red Raiders have not started 12-0 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 is on a double-digit winning streak for only the eighth time in school history, and this marks the fifth time such a streak has begun the season. 12-0 is Tech's third-best start in school history.
Last Team Standing?
At 12-0, Texas Tech is one of nine remaining undefeated teams in the nation. The Red Raiders are joined by Ole Miss, Appalachian State, Loyola Marymount, Florida State, Washington, Stanford, Oregon and Texas.
In The Conference Room
Through four weeks of play, Texas Tech leads the Big 12 in assists per set (13.58), digs per set (16.62) and blocks allowed per set (1.39). The Red Raiders are also second in the league in kills per set (14.24). Individually, Lauren Douglass leads the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.398), and Rachel Brummitt leads the conference in digs per set (5.29).
Leading Ladies
Several 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):
Tech In The NCAA Rankings| 16. | Rachel Brummitt | Digs Per Set | 5.32 |
| 24. | Rachel Brummitt | Aces Per Set | 0.51 |
| 36. | Marguerite Grubb | Assists Per Set | 10.86 |
| 36. | Lauren Douglass | Hitting Percentage | .389 |
| 8. | Texas Tech | Assists Per Set (Team) | 13.58 |
| 20. | Texas Tech | Kills Per Set (Team) | 14.24 |
| 26. | Texas Tech | Digs Per Set (Team) | 16.79 |
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 232 digs to become the school's all-time leader, after already logging 238 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.) 1,352
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
