Texas Tech Athletics
8-3,0-0Big 12
University of Miami
8-2,0-0ACC
Miami defeats Tech in three sets
September 20, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Texas Tech Red Raiders collected 11 blocks against the (RV) Miami Hurricanes, but fell in three sets 23-25, 23-25, 17-25, on Friday evening at the Knight Sports Complex.
Texas Tech (8-3) had seven players pick up at least one block in the match versus Miami (8-2), with sophomore Reagan Engler leading the way with five of her own. Both Katelyn Cochran and Aliyah McDonald posted three blocks apiece with Cochran adding 11 assists and McDonald totaling four kills on the night.
Junior Brynn Williams led the Red Raiders in kills with six followed by both Simone Overbeck and Emily Merrick with five each. Two Red Raiders also recorded double-digit digs against the Hurricanes as Maddie Correa had 13 and Mia Wesley collected 10.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams traded points to start the first set until the Hurricanes went on a 4-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. The Red Raiders would fight back – getting kills from Merrick and Williams, and blocks from McDonald and Merrick to get within one point, 17-16. Tech would get back-to-back points after an attack error by Miami and an ace from Correa. The Red Raiders would follow with three-consecutive points for a 22-20 advantage, but the Hurricanes won five of the next six points to take a close first set, 25-23.
Miami jumped out to a 6-2 lead in set two, but Tech would answer with a kill by Merrick and an ace from Emily Contreras to make it 6-4. A 3-0 run by the Red Raiders, highlighted by an ace from Wesley and blocks from Williams and Engler, helped Tech make it 8-7. But, Miami would win five of the next six points for a 14-8 advantage. Tech responded by scoring five of the next six points thanks to kills from McDonald and an ace by Cochran to get within two points, 15-13. Once again, the Scarlet and Black went on a 6-2 run to lead 20-18 before the Hurricanes came back to tie things at 20-all. Miami bounced back, eventually winning the set by another 25-23 score.
Miami and Texas Tech kept the third set close early as both teams tied four different times before getting to 8-all on a kill by Williams. Miami then followed with a 3-0 run for an 11-8 advantage, then added to its lead on an ace at 15-10 to force a Red Raider timeout. Tech won back-to-back points on a Merrick kill and solo block to make it 15-12, but the Hurricanes won the next five points. They would hold on to that lead for the rest of the set to win it by a score of 25-17.
UP NEXT
The Red Raiders conclude the 305 Challenge tournament with a match against No. 25 Arkansas on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.
