Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Volleyball Set for Kristen Dickmann Invitational
September 10, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech volleyball team travels to Annapolis, Maryland, for the Kristen Dickmann Invitational from Sept. 11-12 at Wesley A. Brown Field House.
The 6-1 Red Raiders will face Maryland on Friday, Sept. 11, at 3:30 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday against Navy (noon) and George Washington (5 p.m.).NON-CON DOMINATION
The Red Raiders will look to improve its stellar non-conference record this weekend, as Tech is a combined 50-17 against out-of-league opponents under Coach Flora. Tech went 14-2 against non-conference opponents in Flora's first season, turned in an 11-5 mark in 2012 and went 7-9 the following year. However, last year the Red Raiders got off to a hot start, going 12-0 through non-conference play, the first time they had done so since 1996. During that stretch, Tech has gone 18-2 when hosting out-of-league opponents at the United Supermarkets Arena, while putting up an 20-5 record when playing at a neutral site. Both of the home non-conference losses under Flora came during the injury-riddled 2013 season.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
It'll be a quick turnaround for the Red Raiders, as they'll finish their road trip with a weekday matchup at UTEP on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. Later in the week, Tech will host their final tournament of the season, the Lone Star Showdown, from Sept. 18-19. The Red Raiders will take on Portland State (11 a.m.) and Washington State (7 p.m.) on Friday the 18th, and wrap up with Northwestern State (1:30 p.m.) on Saturday.
TROPHY ROOM
Senior Carlie Foust was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 31. The Amarillo, Texas, native turned in career-high performances against Louisiana-Lafayette and Houston over the weekend, tallying 18 and 29 digs, respectively . Through three matches, she leads the Big 12 in total digs (61) and digs per set (6.10). With the accolade, Foust becomes the fifth Red Raiders to earn the accomplishment.
NATIONAL FIREPOWER
Junior Lauren Douglass has put together a strong start to the 2015 season, putting up the second-best hitting percentage in the Big 12 and No. 5 in the NCAA (.509). The Flower Mound, Texas, native has posted 63 kills this season, including a season-high 14 against Houston (Aug. 29). Through seven matches, she owns the top three hitting percentages for the Red Raiders, which features a best of .688 clip against Columbia on Sept. 4.
RE-WRITING HISTORY
At the SFA Invitational, the Red Raiders etched their names into the Texas Tech record books after turning in eighth and 10th best attack percentages in school history. Against Northeastern, the Red Raiders put together a mark of .486 on 42 kills, ranking eighth all-time. In the second match of the doubleheader, Tech tallied a percentage of .479 behind 51 kills, putting them at No. 10.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
In their six victories this season, the Red Raiders have only dropped one set out of the 19 played. The lone set came against Houston and went into extra frames before the Red Raiders fell, 31-29. Under CoacAh Flora, Tech is 45-13 when claiming the first set.
GETTIN' DEFENSIVE Opponents have found it difficult to mount a successful attack against the Red Raiders this season. Overall, opponents have posted a .081 mark against Tech, which ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 and is second in the NCAA. In five of seven matches, Texas Tech has held their opponents to a hitting percentage below .100, including three times at the SFA Invitational last weekend. Against South Dakota State, Tech kept the Jackrabbits to a .000 attack percentage in the three-set victory. Under Flora, the Red Raiders are 24-0 when holding their opponents to a percentage under .100.
BLOCK PARTY
The Red Raiders return their leading blocker from the 2014 season in junior Lauren Douglass. The Preseason All-Big 12 honoree recorded 13 during the first three games of the season. Joining Douglass in the fun is sophomore Victoria Hinneburg, who tallied 15 at the Texas Tech Fall Invitational, including eight against Utah State. Adding five at the SFA Invitational, Hinneburg (20) ranks fifth in the Big 12 in the category.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Last season, junior Marguerite Grubb averaged 9.62 assists per set, which ranked sixth in the Big 12. She hasn't wasted any time picking up where she left off, jumping out to an average of 11.18 assists per set, notching 47 in the win over Houston. Her marks place her third in the conference with a total of 246 assists.
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Texas Tech welcomes in six newcomers to the 2015 squad. The six combine for five All-State honors, 10 All-District selections and three state titles. Four of the six athletes were named to the 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association Under Armour All-American Watch List.
Several freshman have already made a significant impact. Katy Keenan finished second on the team in kills in the matches against Northeastern (10) and South Dakota State (nine). She's notched 27 kills in 13 sets for an attack percentage of .393, which ranks third on the team and eighth in the Big 12. She is the only freshman in the top 10 in the category. Reyn Akiu has tallied 27 digs and three service aces during her time on the court. Sarah Redding has recorded 17 kills and eight digs in her first year donning the Scarlet and Black.
DIGGING TO THE TOP
Through 22 sets, the Red Raiders hold the Big 12 lead in digs (389) and digs per set (17.68). Leading the way for Tech is senior Carlie Foust with 121, with junior Marguerite Grubb checking in with 60. Five different Red Raiders have at least 30 digs this season.
ELITE COMPETITION
The Big 12 will once again be one of the toughest volleyball conferences nationally this season. The conference finished 2014 second in league RPI, marking the fourth time the Big 12 has been No. 2 or better, with five teams inside the NCAA RPI top 30. The league has one team ranked in the AVCA top 25 preseason poll in Texas (No. 3), with Iowa State, Kansas and Oklahoma receiving votes.
