Red Raiders Open NDSU Classic with 3-0 Win

Friday, September 2

Fargo, N.D.

10 AM

Texas Tech Athletics

2-2

South Dakota State

1-4

South Dakota State

Texas Tech

Red Raiders Open NDSU Classic with 3-0 Win

September 02, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Texas Tech continues play at 7 p.m., tonight as it takes on host North Dakota State.

Box Score

FARGO, N.D. – Texas Tech volleyball opened play at the North Dakota State Classic Friday with a 3-0 win over South Dakota State at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

The Red Raiders (2-2) carried over its strong finish at the Portland State Tournament last weekend into its opening matchup in North Dakota, using strong defense to hold the Jackrabbits (1-4) to a .101 hitting percentage and take the win in straight sets, 25-18, 25-17, 25-21.

"It was a solid match for us today to start the weekend," head coach Tony Graystone said following his second win in the scarlet & black. "We played a lot of freshmen and sophomores, and I was happy with their play. Toni (McDougald) had a very nice all-around match and led us offensively, and Chandler (Atwood) came off the bench to give us a real spark on the right side. Our block and defense got better as we went along. Overall, it was a step in the right direction."

Texas Tech compiled 41 kills in the victory, emphasizing a balanced attack led by freshman Toni McDougald's 11. Sophomore Katy Keenan added seven kills, while junior Courtney Ensch and freshman Chandler Atwood recorded five apiece.

Senior Marguerite Grubb continued an impressive start to her senior season, tallying a game-high 35 assists in the victory. The Houston native came two digs shy of a double-double with eight digs, while sophomore Reyn Akiu posted a game-high 15 digs and freshman Maggie Sagers added eight, respectively.

Tech trailed 9-6 early in the first set before a pair of aces from Sagers cut the deficit to one and kills by Ensch and Keenan helped the Red Raiders surge in front. Holding a 14-13 lead, Tech won six of the next seven points to gain a firm lead en route to a 25-18 first-set win.

A surge in mid-way through the second set helped Tech pull away to take command of the match. The Red Raiders used a pair of 5-0 spurts to pull ahead 18-12. The Jackrabbits trimmed the lead to 18-16, before Tech's balanced attack took over and a combined block by Keenan and Grubb gave tech a 25-17 second-set victory.

The defensive middle flexed its muscle in the third set, posting five blocks to help Tech turn a 15-15 stalemate into a 23-17 lead, and a kill by junior Hannah Henriksen sealed the third set, 25-21.

Tech returns to the court Friday evening to take on host North Dakota State at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse at 7 p.m.