Texas Tech Volleyball Comes Back After Loss to Kansas
The Texas Tech Volleyball versus Baylor recap started Friday, October 1, and Saturday, October 2. Both games were in Waco, Texas, at the Ferrell Center. The team headed into the match with a 10-5 record after dropping their first two Big 12 games against Kansas.
TTU vs. Baylor Game 1 Recap
To start, Texas Tech volleyball versus Baylor recap, TTU won the first game against Baylor in five sets. After falling behind in the first two sets, they came back and dominated the last three to win. The team won 23-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22, and 18-16.
The Bears took the opening set, but the Red Raiders held on tightly to almost winning the first set. The Red Raiders led 18-15, and Junior Caitlin Dugan tied the match to 23 after the Bears took the lead. Baylor took the following two points to win the set.
Next, in the second match, both teams went back and forth to start. Baylor used a 7-2 run to lead 18-13 and forced TTU to take a timeout. The Red Raiders went on a run, but the Bears held on to win the second set, giving them a 2-0 lead in the match.
Third, Fourth & Fifth Set
In the third set, the Red Raiders battled back to close a 10-6 deficit. The team pushed ahead with a 7-2 run giving them an 18-15 advantage forcing Baylor to take a timeout. Out of the timeout, Baylor tied the match to 22, but TTU took the final three points to win the third set.
The Red Raiders continued their momentum into the fourth set and influenced the start with a 6-1 run. The team pushed the lead to 13-5 from three straight kills from Junior Reagan Cooper. Baylor cut the lead to 14-11. Another kill with Cooper and an error from Baylor pushed TTU ahead. The set ended in a set point with a kill by Junior Kenna Sauer and Senior Alex Kirby.
There were 11 ties and six lead changes in the deciding fifth set before the Red Raiders got back-to-back points to win. The first match point came at 14-13 with a kill from Sophomore Maddie O’Brien but had a service error to tie at 14. Baylor had a few service errors to give TTU another life.
The Red Raiders capitalized on the opportunity with a kill by Sauer to give the team their first Big 12 win. The Bears challenged the team, but TTU pulled out the win and made history against a ranked team.
Furthermore, this is the first win for TTU in Big 12 and marked the first win over a top 10 team since 1996.
TTU vs. Baylor Game 2 Recap
In the second match, The Red Raiders dropped to Baylor in four sets. The team lost 13-25, 25-23, 17-25, and 25-27. The teams split the series tied at 1-1 each.
The Bears dominated the opening set from the start, leading 7-2 early on. TTU committed a few errors to give the Bears a 14-7 lead and continued to win 25-13.
The Red Raiders came back and evened the match by winning the second set. The team took an early 14-5 lead to start the set, forcing the Bears to burn their second timeout. The Bears cut the lead to 14-10, but TTU pushed the advantage back to six with a kill from Sauer. Baylor came back 22-20, but Sauer ended the game with a kill to win the set.
In the third set, Baylor took the lead of the match by taking the third. They tallied five straight points to give them a 5-1 run, but the Red Raiders pulled within two. Baylor used their momentum to stretch to a 21-12 lead, then TTU tallied the following three points to shink the lead. Baylor held on to win the third.
Lastly, in the fourth, the Red Raiders tried to hold on to force a fifth and final set losing 27-25. They took a 10-5 advantage that pushed the Bears into a timeout. Baylor rattled off points to make it a one-point contest 19-18. A kill from Kauer and an ace from Graduate Student KJ Adams created a set point for TTU. Baylor held on, taking three points to give them a match point. A kill and ball-handling error gave Baylor the win.
Coming Up in Big 12 Action for TTU
The Red Raiders travel home to face Iowa State on Thursday, October 7, and October 8. Following the series, the team will travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the Sooners Friday, October 15, and October 16.
Watch the women’s volleyball team continue to play in the conference schedule with a record of 11-6, and hope to pull off more conference wins. You can buy your tickets for 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 the Texas Tech volleyball schedule to see when you can catch the next game.
Under our sports category read about other TTU athletic teams.
By Campus Live Intern Kaelea Pena