Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
8-11,1-6Big 12
BYU
15-3,4-2Big 12
Red Raiders force No. 9 BYU to five sets in Provo
October 13, 2023 | Women's Volleyball
PROVO, Utah – Two Red Raiders posted double-doubles on Friday night, but Texas Tech dropped a tough, five-set match to the No. 9 BYU Cougars, 21-25, 25-22, 7-25, 25-22, 12-15, at Smith Fieldhouse.
The Red Raiders (8-11, 1-6 Big 12) were the first team this season to force BYU (15-3, 4-2 Big 12) into a fifth set as Tech held the Cougars to their seventh lowest hitting percentage. As a team, the Scarlet and Black collected 51 kills, 48 assists, 63 digs and 11.0 blocks.
Senior Reese Rhodes had an impressive night after posting her team-leading eighth double-double of the season with 39 assists and 10 digs, while also adding six kills on 10 swings (.500). Sophomore Brynn Williams totaled the team's second double-double, and her seventh of the year, when she tallied a team-high 16 kills and 13 digs.
Joining Williams with her 12th double-digit kill game of the season was graduate Caitlin Dugan after she posted 13 slams on the night and seven blocks. Freshman Kate Hansen had five kills on 12 swings for a .417 hitting clip and also tallied a team-leading eight blocks.
Four Red Raiders had double-digit digs against BYU – Williams, Rhodes, Abby Dickinson (12) and Maddie Correa (15). In picking up 15 digs, Correa surpassed the 800-career dig mark as she's now at 805. Three freshmen also posted two aces apiece in Dickinson, Hansen and Emily Contreras, with Contreras and Hansen gaining career highs in the category.
The Red Raiders kept things close in the first set. After going down 4-1 to begin, Tech would go on a 3-1 run thanks to kills from Hansen and Dugan, and an ace by Contreras, to make it 5-4. Winning three points in a row on kills from Rhodes, the Red Raiders tied things up at 8-all. BYU answered with a run of their own to take a 15-10 lead heading into the media timeout. Tech came back within three points, 16-13, on a roll shot from Emily Merrick. Tech then won six of the following eight points to make it 22-20, highlighted by blocks from Dugan and Hansen. However, BYU closed out the set on a 3-1 run to take it, 25-21.
BYU was out to a hot start in set two, taking an 8-2 advantage before Dugan stopped their momentum with a slam. Contreras got to the service line and continued to power through BYU's serve-receive after getting her second ace of the match. The freshman would help the Red Raiders to a 5-0 run before an error stopped it. However, Tech kept it up and won three more points thanks to kills by Rhodes and Williams, and Hansen's second ace of the night, to make it 10-9 in the Scarlet and Black's favor. The Red Raiders stayed hot and would win six of the next 10 points to take a 16-13 lead. Tech closed out the set with a solo block from Dugan and a big swing by Merrick to win it by a score of 25-22.
The Cougars began the third set on an 8-3 run, stopped by Dugan when she slammed down a kill. BYU would go on a 9-0 run after that before Tech scored another point, taking the 18-6 lead. The Cougars closed out the set with six-straight points to take it, 25-7.
BYU once again started strong in the fourth set, going ahead by a 7-4 score. Tech responded with a 3-1 run thanks to kills by Merrick and Dugan to come within a point. Then, the Red Raiders won five consecutive points, highlighted by an ace from Dickinson, to lead 12-9. Tech would hold the lead until BYU went on a 3-0 run to retake it at 17-16. The Cougars held a 19-17 advantage, but Tech answered with a 6-0 run as Williams put down four-straight kills, followed by another from Rhodes, to take the 23-19 lead. BYU tried to rally back, but the Red Raiders forced a fifth and final set with a 25-22 score.
Tech began set five winning the first two points on blocks from Engler and Rhodes, and a kill by Williams. BYU answered with three-consecutive points before another Williams kill tied it at 3-all. Even at 5-5, Tech won the next two points for the 7-5 lead thanks to a BYU service error and another block from Hansen and Dugan. The Cougars went ahead after taking four-straight points. Tech closed the gap when Engler and Dugan recorded a block, but BYU won the final two points to claim the match with a 15-12 fifth set score.
UP NEXT
The Red Raiders will play another match against the No. 9 Cougars on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m.
