Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
6-4,0-0Big 12
SMU
4-5,0-0AAC
Tech drops five-set thriller at SMU
September 15, 2023 | Women's Volleyball
DALLAS – Graduate Caitlin Dugan recorded a career-high 24 kills, but the SMU Mustangs came out on top in a five-set thriller Friday night, 11-25, 25-22, 25-20, 20-25, 10-15, at Moody Coliseum.
Dugan was on fire for the Red Raiders (6-4) after collecting a career-high 24 kills on 67 attacks, while adding three blocks and a .239 hitting clip against SMU (4-5). Brynn Williams was second in kills after posting 12 with 20 digs for her sixth double-double of the year. Emily Merrick had a great offensive night after collecting 11 kills on 20 attacks for a season-best .450 hitting percentage.
Freshman Katelyn Cochran came in and had a career night with 41 assists and two aces while also tallying nine digs. Both Abby Dickinson and Maddie Correa joined Williams in the match with double-digit digs as they totaled 17 and 12, respectively. Freshman Kate Hansen led the Red Raiders in blocks for the eighth time this season after posting a team-best five against the Mustangs.
In the first set, SMU took a 3-1 lead on an ace from Brooke Frazier. Tech tried to cut into the Mustang lead with a Dugan kill, but SMU held it at 5-3. The Mustangs won seven of the next eight points for the 12-4 advantage until Williams stopped the run with a kill. SMU kept the momentum, though, and would claim the first set by a 25-11 score.
Tech took a 4-1 lead to begin set two with kills from Dugan, Hansen and Merrick and an ace from Cochran. SMU and Tech were even at 8-8 before the Mustangs went ahead by two on a kill from Naya Shime. With SMU leading 11-9, the Red Raiders would go on a 5-0 run, highlighted by blocks from Hansen and Cochran, to take a 15-11 lead heading into the media timeout. SMU responded with a run of its own to tie things at 15-all. Both teams traded points until the very end when Dugan slammed down a kill for set point to win it, 25-22.
SMU and Tech went back-and-forth to start set three, eventually tying 8-8 on a Mustang service error. The Red Raiders then won five-consecutive points highlighted by two kills from Dugan and two blocks from Dugan and Hansen. Going ahead 17-12, SMU would cut into Tech's lead on a run of their own to take a 21-20 lead. However, the Red Raiders scored the last five points with the set winner coming from Cochran's career-high third ace of the match, 25-21.
Tech took a 3-2 lead early in the fourth set on kills from Merrick. SMU came back to win five of the next seven points for the 7-5 advantage. After an ace from Courtney O'Brien put Tech ahead, 9-8, the Mustangs rallied back and went on a 9-0 run for the 17-9 lead. The Red Raiders made a comeback, cutting the SMU lead to 21-18, but the Mustangs would hold on to win it, 25-20, and force a fifth set.
SMU began the final set with the 5-2 lead before Merrick and Reagan Engler made it 6-4 with a couple kills. SMU won the next two points, but the Red Raiders answered back with a 3-0 run to come within a point, 8-7. SMU rallied back to take an 11-7 lead, but Dugan put down two kills to make it 11-9. The Mustangs were able to hold on, however, winning the match with a 15-10 fifth set score.
UP NEXT
The Red Raiders will continue play in the SMU Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 16 with a 2 p.m. match against the LSU Tigers.
