Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
8-4,0-0Big 12
University of Arkansas
10-2,0-0SEC
Tech battles No. 25 Arkansas, falls in four sets
September 21, 2024 | Women's Volleyball
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-4) dropped a hard-fought match to the No. 25 Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2), losing 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 19-25 to the SEC foe on Saturday afternoon at the Knight Sports Complex to close out the 305 Challenge tournament.
In the match, Emily Merrick led the way with a career-high of 14 kills while hitting .344 and adding two blocks. Mia Wesley was just behind with 11 kills and 10 digs for her third double-double of the season, while also posting a season-best four aces. Simone Overbeck recorded a career-best 10 kills against the Razorbacks and totaled 10 digs for her first double-double this season.
Defensively, Maddie Correa led the back court in digs with 21 and Emily Contreras had eight of her own. Aliyah McDonald picked up a team-high four blocks with Katelyn Cochran and Reagan Leinen adding three blocks apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Arkansas took a 2-0 lead to start the match. Tech answered with a 3-0 run thanks to kills from Wesley and Leinen and an ace from Wesley. The Red Raiders held a 4-3 lead, but the Razorbacks went on a 5-0 run for the 8-4 advantage. Arkansas went ahead by a 17-9 score when Tech won four-consecutive points on another ace by Wesley and a block assist from Cochran and Leinen to make it 17-13. The Razorbacks were able to maintain their lead, though, winning the first set by a 25-21 score.
Tech opened the second set with back-to-back kills from Merrick and Wesley. The Red Raiders held on to the lead thanks to more kills by Cochran and Overbeck before Arkansas tied the set at 8-all. Tech responded by winning three of the next four points on a kill from Merrick and a block assist by McDonald and Merrick for an 11-10 advantage. A kill from Overbeck gave Tech a close, 15-14 lead heading into the media timeout. The Red Raiders maintained their lead after the timeout, highlighted by a 4-0 run to end the set with a 25-18 score thanks to an ace from Overbeck.
In set three, the Red Raiders started with the momentum as they led Arkansas by a 5-2 score thanks to a second ace from Overbeck and kills by Wesley and Merrick. Arkansas was able to win five of the next six points to take a 7-6 lead before another slam from Wesley evened the score. After being tied 8-8, the Razorbacks claimed five points to force a Tech timeout with a 13-9 lead. The Red Raiders clawed their way back, going on a 5-0 run to tie the set at 17-all after getting a couple aces from Wesley and a kill by Overbeck. The Razorbacks were able to retake the lead, then finished off the set with a 25-22 score.
Tech and Arkansas tied a few times to open the fourth set, eventually getting to 6-6 on a block by Overbeck and Leinen. The Razorbacks would then take the lead in the set by a 12-8 score to force a Tech timeout. Arkansas held on to that lead, going ahead by four to take an 18-14 advantage. Tech kept battling, but the ranked Razorbacks would win the match in four sets, 25-19.
UP NEXT
The Red Raiders begin Big 12 play with a road trip to Utah on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.
