Texas Tech Athletics
Maryland
Red Raider Volleyball Drops Invitational Opener to Maryland
September 11, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2015
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - Senior Meghan Stacy tied a career-high in kills with 18, but it was not enough to stop Maryland from claiming a 3-1 victory in the first game of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational on Friday afternoon.
The Terrapins (9-0) took the first set, 25-20, followed by a strong second set win by the Red Raiders (6-2), 25-14. However, Maryland won a hard-fought third set, 25-22, and closed out the match with a 25-16 victory in the fourth frame.
It was the third-straight match Stacy has led the team in kills, putting up 39 over that stretch. Her 18 on Friday was her best total since Sept. 7, 2013, coming in a match against Eastern Washington. Three other Red Raiders would turn in seven or more kills against Maryland: Sarah Redding (10), Katy Keenan (9) and Lauren Douglass (7).
"It was great to see Meghan Stacy have a nice offensive match," head coach Don Flora said. "We need to be able to stay offensively balanced and have production from numerous people."
The Red Raiders tallied 13 kills in the first set, behind an attack percentage of .312. Senior Meghan Stacy and freshman Sarah Redding each put up four kills in the first frame, while senior Carlie Foust added six digs. Tech and the Terrapins battled back and forth through the middle of the set, until Maryland pulled away late, 25-20.
Tech rebounded with a dominating second set. Stacy added seven kills, reaching double-digit kills for the third-straight match. The Red Raiders tallied 17 kills and 20 digs in the second frame, with junior Marguerite Grubb dishing out 16 assists. Tech put together a .361 hitting percentage, aided by going 71 percent (10-14) on sideout attempts in the 25-14 set victory.
The third set went back-and-forth, featuring seven lead changes. Tech added 15 kills in the third game, with Redding entering double-digits in the category. After giving up a 7-0 run, the Red Raiders fought back to pull within one point multiple times near the end, before Maryland was able to close it out, 25-22.
After the Red Raiders opened the fourth set on a 4-0 run, Maryland countered with four of their own, as well as sandwiching multiple streaks between Tech points to ultimately win the set, 25-16.
"In key matches, the serve and pass game becomes very crucial," Flora said. "We need to handle that part of the game in every match."
Grubb finished with 45 assists, the third time this season she's recorded more than 40 and second match in a row she's accomplished the feat. Freshman Katy Keenan led the Red Raiders with five blocks to go along with her nine kills and Foust would finish with 19 digs.
Tech returns to the court for a doubleheader against Navy (noon) and George Washington (5 p.m.) on the second day of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational in Annapolis.
