Texas Tech University Athletics
Wednesday, September 20
Waco, Texas
6 PM
Texas Tech Athletics
at
Baylor
Volleyball Opens Big 12 Play Wednesday at Baylor
September 19, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
Red Raiders look to carry momentum, build off confidence gained from non-conference play
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech volleyball kicks off its Big 12 slate with a trip to Waco, Texas, to take on the Baylor Bears Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.
The Red Raiders (11-2, 0-0) wrapped up non-conference play last weekend with a perfect 3-0 mark at the Clemson Challenge. Tech defeated Clemson and South Carolina on its way to the crown, marking the first time since 2002 Tech has defeated a pair of current Power-Five opponents in non-conference play.
Baylor, meanwhile, rides a five-match win streak into the midweek tilt, a surge that includes a five-set win over then-No. 10 BYU on Sept. 9 in Hawaii.
"The easy answer is we're just better," head coach Tony Graystone said when asked the difference between his club from 2016 to 2017. "The quality of our talent, the consistency that we play with day-in and day-out, our ability to be in system more often, how we play late in games and the confidence we are starting to show – you put it all together, and we're just a better group."
The match will be featured on FOX Sports Southwest with John Morris (play-by-play) and Alex Banister (color) on the call.
The Bears
Reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week Katie Staiger helped Baylor sweep the Jason's Deli Baylor Classic last weekend. The outside hitter became Baylor's all-time kills leader in the rally scoring era when she notched 20 in a sweep of St. John's. The Bears also picked up four-set wins over Texas State and UTSA on their way to the team title.
Series Info
Texas Tech leads the all-time series against the Bears, 49-31, despite dropping five in a row. Tech's last win in the series dates back to 2014 when Tech earned a five-set win in Waco. The Red Raiders were swept last season in Waco and fell in four sets in the rematch at United Supermarkets Arena.
Red Raiders Recently
Junior Katy Keenan was named Clemson Challenge MVP after hitting a tournament-best .475 in Clemson while averaging eight kills per match. The Argyle, Texas, native is currently fourth in the Big 12 with a hitting percentage of .380. Tech went 3-0 in Clemson with four-set wins over Clemson and South Carolina and a decisive sweep of Georgia Southern.
Tech Notes
• Texas Tech is looking for its first Big 12 win under second-year head coach Tony Graystone
• Tech is 8-13 all-time in Big 12 openers and opens league play on the road for the second straight year
• Tech enters the Big 12 play tied with the second-best win/loss percentage in non-conference play
• Tech is third in the league in kills per set, fourth in service aces and fifth in attack percentage
• Sophomore Emily Hill ranks seventh in kills per set and points per set.
• Two Red Raiders are among the league leaders in hitting percentage: Keenan (4th) and White (8th)
• Junior Missy Owens ranks second in the Big 12 in assists per set at 10.93
• Freshman Allison White's .354 hitting % is second among Big 12 freshmen
• Since missing time with a foot injury, Redding has averaged 2.8 kills per set in the last six matches
• Preseason All-Big 12 libero Tita Akiu is averaging 4.98 D/S, right on pace with her mark of 4.97 in 2016
The Red Raiders (11-2, 0-0) wrapped up non-conference play last weekend with a perfect 3-0 mark at the Clemson Challenge. Tech defeated Clemson and South Carolina on its way to the crown, marking the first time since 2002 Tech has defeated a pair of current Power-Five opponents in non-conference play.
Baylor, meanwhile, rides a five-match win streak into the midweek tilt, a surge that includes a five-set win over then-No. 10 BYU on Sept. 9 in Hawaii.
"The easy answer is we're just better," head coach Tony Graystone said when asked the difference between his club from 2016 to 2017. "The quality of our talent, the consistency that we play with day-in and day-out, our ability to be in system more often, how we play late in games and the confidence we are starting to show – you put it all together, and we're just a better group."
The match will be featured on FOX Sports Southwest with John Morris (play-by-play) and Alex Banister (color) on the call.
The Bears
Reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week Katie Staiger helped Baylor sweep the Jason's Deli Baylor Classic last weekend. The outside hitter became Baylor's all-time kills leader in the rally scoring era when she notched 20 in a sweep of St. John's. The Bears also picked up four-set wins over Texas State and UTSA on their way to the team title.
Series Info
Texas Tech leads the all-time series against the Bears, 49-31, despite dropping five in a row. Tech's last win in the series dates back to 2014 when Tech earned a five-set win in Waco. The Red Raiders were swept last season in Waco and fell in four sets in the rematch at United Supermarkets Arena.
Red Raiders Recently
Junior Katy Keenan was named Clemson Challenge MVP after hitting a tournament-best .475 in Clemson while averaging eight kills per match. The Argyle, Texas, native is currently fourth in the Big 12 with a hitting percentage of .380. Tech went 3-0 in Clemson with four-set wins over Clemson and South Carolina and a decisive sweep of Georgia Southern.
Tech Notes
• Texas Tech is looking for its first Big 12 win under second-year head coach Tony Graystone
• Tech is 8-13 all-time in Big 12 openers and opens league play on the road for the second straight year
• Tech enters the Big 12 play tied with the second-best win/loss percentage in non-conference play
• Tech is third in the league in kills per set, fourth in service aces and fifth in attack percentage
• Sophomore Emily Hill ranks seventh in kills per set and points per set.
• Two Red Raiders are among the league leaders in hitting percentage: Keenan (4th) and White (8th)
• Junior Missy Owens ranks second in the Big 12 in assists per set at 10.93
• Freshman Allison White's .354 hitting % is second among Big 12 freshmen
• Since missing time with a foot injury, Redding has averaged 2.8 kills per set in the last six matches
• Preseason All-Big 12 libero Tita Akiu is averaging 4.98 D/S, right on pace with her mark of 4.97 in 2016
#WheelsUp for Waco! #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/LOg7yWYAEs
— TexasTech Volleyball (@TexasTechVB) September 19, 2017
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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