Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Volleyball Travels to UTEP
September 14, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 14, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech volleyball completes an eight-match road trip with a bout against UTEP on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. in El Paso, Texas.
This will be the 24th meeting between Texas Tech and UTEP. The Red Raiders hold a 20-3 lead in the series, claiming nine straight. The last time the two programs met was in 2006, when Tech picked up a 3-2 victory in El Paso.
NON-CON DOMINATION
The Red Raiders will look to improve its stellar non-conference record this weekend, as Tech is a combined 52-18 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 a 21-6 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
A busy week for the Red Raiders concludes when 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.
NATIONAL FIREPOWER
Junior Lauren Douglass has put together a strong start to the 2015 season, putting up the top hitting percentage in the Big 12 and the second-best in the NCAA (.516). The Flower Mound, Texas, native has posted 93 kills this season, including a season-high 16 against George Washington (Sept. 12) at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational. Through 10 matches, she owns the top three hitting percentages in the conference, which features a best of .688 clip against Columbia on Sept. 4.
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.
RE-WRITING HISTORY
At the SFA Invitational, the Red Raiders etched their names into the Texas Tech record books after turning in the 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 eight victories this season, the Red Raiders have only dropped two sets out of the 26 played. The first came against Houston and went into extra frames before the Red Raiders fell, 31-29, while the second came in a battle against George Washington, 25-22. Under Coach 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 .111 mark against Tech, which ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 and is fourth 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. 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 has already recorded a team-high 30 blocks this season, including nine last weekend at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational. Joining Douglass in the fun is sophomore Victoria Hinneburg, who tallied 15 at the Texas Tech Fall Invitational, including eight against Utah State. Adding six at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational, Hinneburg (26) ranks sixth in the Big 12 averaging 1.18 per set.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Junior Marguerite Grubb hasn't wasted any time picking up where she left off last season, jumping out to an average of 11.36 assists per set, notching a season-high 52 in the win over George Washington. Her marks place her third in the conference and No. 16 in the country with a total of 375 assists. Last season, she averaged 9.62 assists per set, which ranked sixth in the Big 12.
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 led the team in kills with nine in the victory over Navy at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational last weekend. Starting each of the last five matches, she's notched 52 kills for an attack percentage of .374, which ranks second on the team and 10th in the Big 12. She is the only freshman in the top 10 in the category. Reyn Akiu has tallied 36 digs and three service aces during her time on the court. Sarah Redding has recorded 39 kills, as well as 15 digs, and Katelyn Bryant has racked up 20 digs in their first year donning the Scarlet and Black.
DIGGING TOWARD THE TOP
Through 33 sets, the Red Raiders are ranked second in the Big 12 in digs per set at 16.03, totaling 529 digs this season. Leading the way for Tech is senior Carlie Foust with 168, who ranks second in the league, while junior Marguerite Grubb checking in with 87. Seven 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 two teams ranked in the AVCA top 25 preseason poll, in Texas (No. 2) and Kansas (No. 17), with Kansas State and Iowa State receiving votes.
