Grubb Notches Double-Double in loss to Kansas State

Wednesday, October 5

Lubbock, Texas

6:00 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

10-9, 0-4

Kansas State

13-4, 2-2

Kansas State

Texas Tech

Grubb Notches Double-Double in loss to Kansas State

October 05, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Red Raiders unable to hold onto early leads in sets one and two as Wildcats pull away for 3-0 win.

LUBBOCK, Texas – Senior setter Marguerite Grubb compiled her third double-double of the season with 28 assists and 11 digs, but Texas Tech was unable to match Kansas State's offensive firepower as the Wildcats claimed a 3-0 victory over the Red Raiders Wednesday at United Supermarkets Arena.

Texas Tech jumped out to 3-0 leads in each of the first two sets, but was unable to sustain the pressure, allowing the Wildcats to claw back and collect a 25-18, 25-19, 25-20 victory. Kansas State's playmakers came up big down the stretch of each frame, led by double-digit performances from freshman Bryna Vogel (12) and junior Brooke Sassin (11), while three other Wildcats tallied eight kills or more on a night in which Texas Tech was outhit .308 to .168.

"We started better tonight," head coach Tony Graystone said. "We kept it close for a while, but we weren't able to resist their side on offense. (Kansas State) is a team with a bunch of seniors and a great setter over there. If you give them an easy ball, then they're going to take care of it. We are going to get there. Our system is getting better. We are in the right position more often. Now, we've got to take care of those balls."

Senior Lauren Douglass led the Red Raiders with her eleventh double-digit kill performance of the season, recording 11, while junior Hannah Henriksen added eight and sophomore Sarah Redding notched seven. On the back line, sophomore libero Reyn Akiu finished with a team-high 12 digs and a season-high eight assists.

The first set stayed tight throughout as Texas Tech held Kansas State to a .209 clip while hitting .184 itself. Trailing 15-18, Texas Tech would commit a series of errors as Grubb misplaced two balls and a Redding shot fired long, and Kansas State took advantage to go on a 4-0 run and take command of the set, 22-15. The Red Raiders fought off two match points before Sassin connected on a kill to earn a 25-18 win.

The Red Raiders rebounded in the second set to establish a quick 3-0 lead. Kansas State shored up its defense with three total blocks in the frame and held Texas Tech to .130 hitting for the set to edge back in front. Henriksen carried over a strong performance in the first set in which she had three kills with three more in the second to keep her squad nearly even at 18-19. The Wildcats went back to Sassin who connected on three kills down the stretch to help Kansas State pull away and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Texas Tech again hung close in the third set. A pair of blasts by Sarah Redding and an ace from freshman Toni Mcdougald shrunk a Wildcat lead to 10-9. Kansas State, however, hit a whopping .500 in the set to hold the Red Raiders at bay and take the straight-set victory.

The loss drops Texas Tech to 10-9, 0-4 in the Big 12, while the Wildcats improve to 13-4 and 2-2 in conference play.

UP NEXT
Texas Tech continues Big 12 play as it travels to Lawrence, Kansas, Saturday to battle No. 6 Kansas. First serve is set for 4 p.m., and the match will air live on ESPN3.