TTU Volleyball Starts Strong in First Four Games of 2021 Season
After a 9-13 record for the 2020 season, the TTU volleyball team starts with a 3-1 after the first four games of the 2021 season. The team kicked off their regular season by heading to the Tennesse Classic and taking on East Tennessee State and Tennessee on Friday, Aug. 27.
TTU vs. East Tennessee State
Firstly, in their opening match against East Tennessee State, the Texas Tech Red Raiders were dominant, taking all three sets straight. The team won the sets 25-20, 25-19, and 25-21.
Junior Caitlin Dugan had the most kills from the Texas Tech Red Raiders with 11, two blocks, and hitting .588.
Also for the Red Raiders, Freshman Madison Gilliland played in her college debut and tallied up four blocks and seven kills.
Moreover, the Red Raiders’ win over East Tennessee State marked the fifth consecutive season-opening win for head coach Tony Graystone.
TTU vs. Tennesse
In the second game Friday evening, the team took on Tennesse. Unfortunately, Tennesse defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders in three sets straight. To sum up, the team lost the sets 15-25, 17-25, and 18-25.
Both sophomore Maddie O’Brien and fifth-year senior Samantha Sanders led the team with eight points.
O’Brien had five kills and four blocks, including two solo blocks.
TTU vs. NC State
In the final game of the Tennessee Classic, the team took on NC State and won in five sets. After dropping the first two sets, the team won the next three to top NC State. In short, the team won the sets 18-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20, and 15-9.
Junior Reagan Cooper was dominant in the final few winning sets with a team-high 13 kills, hitting .343, and two blocks.
Likewise, Junior Kenna Sauer recorded her first double-double as a Red Raider with 12 kills and a team-leading 21 digs.
TTU vs. Abilene Christian
Lastly, the Texas Tech Red Raiders traveled to Abilene for a midweek game to take on Abilene Christian on Tuesday, Aug. 31. The Red Raiders were dominant, taking all three sets straight. The team won the sets 25-17, 25-15, and 25-13.
Junior Kenna Sauer tallied up 10 kills hitting .318 to lead all scorers. She also had two blocks and one ace.
Junior Caitlin Dugan hit .400 with eight kills and two blocks. Junior Reagan Cooper tied her career-high with five blocks and also tallied five kills.
The Red Raiders hit .344 with 11 blocks and holding Abilene Christian to a .069 hitting clip.
First Four Games are Completed, So Now What?
The Red Raiders will prepare for a home series stretch facing Texas State, Rhode Island, and Ohio State in the Red Raider Classic starting Friday, Sept. 3.
Keep watch to see the women’s volleyball team pick up their momentum as they head into a home tournament with a record of 3-1. You can buy your tickets for the tournament and also any home game at TexasTech.com. General admission for adults is $5 and $3 for youth. You can also watch the games on ESPN+.
Check out our sports tab for more stories over other Red Raider sports.
Check out TTU volleyball’s schedule for the rest of this year.
Story by Campus Live Intern Kaelea Pena