Red Raiders Capture Texas Tech Invitational Crown

Saturday, September 10

Lubbock, Texas

12:00 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

8-2

UTRGV

5-4

Texas-RGV

Texas Tech

Red Raiders Capture Texas Tech Invitational Crown

September 10, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Keenan, Akiu named to All-Tournament Team; Douglass named Tournament MVP.

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech volleyball team (9-2) wrapped up the Texas Tech Invitational with a pair of wins Saturday at United Supermarkets Arena to finish the weekend 4-0 and capture the tournament title. The Red Raiders, winners of their last nine matches, swept UT Rio Grande Valley 3-0 before downing Oral Roberts, 3-1.

Senior Lauren Douglass was named the Tournament MVP after posting 51 kills and 20 total blocks over the weekend, while sophomore Katy Keenan and Reyn Akiu were selected to the All-Tournament Team.

After defeating Abilene Christian, 3-0, and Stephen F. Austin, 3-1, on Friday, Texas Tech closed out UTRGV (6-4) in straight sets, 25-23, 26-24, 25-21. The Red Raiders followed in the nightcap with a strong 25-19, 25-12, 20-25, 25-16 victory over Oral Roberts (6-4).

Douglass finished with a combined 27 kills in the two outings Saturday, hitting at a .526 clip against the Vaqueros and a .483 clip against the Golden Eagles, while adding 10 total blocks on the day. Keenan posted eight kills against the Vaqueros and six versus the Golden Eagles with .375 and .308 hitting percentages, respectively. Akiu was sensational in defense with a combined 38 digs Saturday.

In the first match of the day, Texas Tech won a tight first set despite being outhit by UTRGV, .375 to .297. Douglass tallied six kills in the opening frame, including the set's final two points, to help the Red Raiders to a 25-23 first-set victory.

Freshman Toni McDougald recorded five of her 11 kills in the second set to pace the Red Raider attack, but the Vaqueros managed a late 24-23 lead. Freshman Kylie Rittimann evened the score with a kill before blocks by Keenan and Douglass pushed Tech to the 26-24 set win.

The Red Raiders jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the third set as the defensive front began to enforce its will. Texas Tech tallied three of its seven team blocks in the third set and used a late 8-4 spurt to take the final set, 25-21.

In the nightcap, Texas Tech used a 7-1 run late to claim a 25-19 win. Douglass carried the offense with five kills while senior Marguerite Grubb added seven assists and four digs. The Red Raiders dug in during the second frame, outhitting the Golden Eagles .526 to .107 to run away with the set, 25-12.

The Golden Eagles battled back to take the third set, 25-20, but the Red Raiders took control in the fourth set with a 12-2 run that turned a 10-8 deficit into a 20-12 lead. Texas Tech closed the match with a 25-16 third-set victory.