Tech Opens Big 12 Home Slate with WVU, ISU

Wednesday, September 27

Lubbock, Texas

6 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

West Virginia

Tickets

Tech Opens Big 12 Home Slate with WVU, ISU

September 26, 2017 | Women's Volleyball

Game Notes FSSW+TexasTech.TV Live Stats Big 12 Notes

The Red Raiders will face the Mountaineers on Wednesday, Sept. 27, followed by the Cyclones on Friday, Sept. 29.

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech volleyball team launches its Big 12 home slate this week, hosting West Virginia on Wednesday, Sept. 27, followed by No. 18 Iowa State on Friday, Sept. 29, at United Supermarkets Arena.

The Red Raiders (11-3, 0-1) take on the Mountaineers (12-2, 1-1) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on FOX Sports Southwest Plus, then wrap the home stand against the Cyclones Friday evening at 6 p.m. on TexasTech.TV. As always, live stats for both matches will be available at TexasTech.statbroadcast.com.

"Against Baylor, it was the small things that separated us," head coach Tony Graystone said. "You can see not just the improvement, but the belief in our girls that we are right there, and we just have to take the next step. We've gone through a stretch with a lot of road trips. Now we've had a week off, so that was nice. Yesterday we looked like a much healthier group. We're excited to be at home, and we're expecting a nice crowd. You only get eight home matches in conference play, so every time you're at home you have to take advantage. "

Wednesday's match features two special promotions. The first is 'club volleyball night', which will grant complimentary admission to fans who wear a volleyball jersey to the match. The second is 'social media night', which will include several initiatives both prior to and during the match themed around the team's social media accounts. Stay tuned to the team's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@TexasTechVB) accounts for more information. At Friday's match, Texas Tech volleyball fans will be able to partake in a drawing for two complimentary tickets to Texas Tech Football's blackout game against Oklahoma State slated for Saturday night at 7 p.m. inside Jones AT&T Stadium.

Both West Virginia and Iowa State hold slight edges in the all-time series with the Red Raiders. Tech has won six of 14 matchups against the Mountaineers, including season-sweep in 2015 and a 2-4 mark in Lubbock. The Red Raiders have won 20 of the 45 meetings against Iowa State and are 9-13 against the Cyclones in Lubbock.

Single-game tickets for Tech's eight Big 12 matches are available for purchase online, along with the Olympic Sports/VIP Pass.

Red Raiders Recently
With Pre-season All-Big 12 libero Reyn Akiu sidelined, graduate transfer Kate Klepetka assumed the role as libero for the team's last two matches and has averaged 5.43 digs per set. Tech, however, dropped its Big 12 opener last Wednesday at Baylor, 3-1. Tech hit .250 as a team, marking its best hitting percentage in a Big 12 match in the Graystone era and the sixth time overall for Tech to reach the benchmark in a Big 12 match dating back to 2009.

The Mountaineers
All three of West Virginia's losses have come to top 10 teams with the Mountaineers most recently falling to No. 6 Texas in five sets. The Mountaineers started 1-0 in Big 12 play for the first time under third-year head coach Reed Sunahara following a four-set win over TCU. Outside hitter Payton Caffrey is the player to watch as she leads the team with 3.21 kills per set at a .180 clip.

The Cyclones
The 18^th-ranked Cyclones are off to another strong start after finishing 18-11, 10-6 in Big 12 play in 2016. Iowa State enters the week streaking following a five-set win over No. 8 Creighton, a sweep at Wichita State and a four-set win to open conference play over Oklahoma. The Cyclones travel to No. 11 Kansas Wednesday before making the trek to Lubbock. Senior Samara West and junior Jess Schaben lead the Cyclone attack as both rank in the Big 12's top four in kills per set during conference play.

Notables
• Texas Tech is looking for its first Big 12 win under second-year head coach Tony Graystone.
• Tech is 7-14 all-time in Big 12 home openers and 2-2 in its last four.
• Tech enters the week as the only Big 12 school to sport an undefeated home record.
• Texas Tech's last Big 12 win was against West Virginia back in 2015. Tech swept the season series with the Mountaineers in 2015 with a pair of straight-set victories.
• TAMUCC graduate transfer Kate Klepetka has filled in for injured Preseason All-Big 12 Libero Reyn Akiu in each of the last two matches
• Iowa State marks Tech's first challenge against a ranked opponent in 2017 and fifth under Graystone (0-4)
• Texas Tech is 2-0 this season in matches immediately following a loss.
• Tech hit .250 in Waco, marking just the sixth time since 2009 the Red Raiders have hit .250 or better in Big 12 play.
• For the season, Tech ranks third in the Big 12 in kills per set and assists per set.
• For the season, junior Tita Akiu ranks second in the Big 12 in digs per set and junior Missy Owens is third in the Big 12 in assists per set.
• For the season, junior Katy Keenan ranks fourth in the Big 12 in hitting percentage while freshman Allison White ranks seventh.
• For the season, sophomore Emily Hill ranks eighth in the Big 12 in points per set.
• Throughout non-conference play, Tech improved its kills per set from 12.96 in 2016 to 14.09 in 2017, its assists per set from 12.07 in 2016 to 13.15 in 2017 and digs per set from 14.70 in 2016 to 15.59 in 2017. Similarly, Tech held opponents to .176 hitting in 2017, down from .200 in 2016, giving up just 11.80 kills per set, which was down from 12.59 in 2016.