Texas Tech Volleyball Heads Into Big 12 Conference Season
The Texas Tech Volleyball team headed into Big 12 action on Friday, September 24, and Saturday, September 25 against Kansas. Both games were at home, at the United Supermarkets Arena. The team headed into conference games with a 10-3 record.
TTU vs. Kansas Game 1
To Start, The Red Raiders dropped their first conference game to Kansas in five sets. The team lost the sets 15-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, and 15-7.
The team opened up the match by taking the first set 25-15. The Red Raiders took the lead early on and never surrendered it. In addition, Caitlin Dugan tallied the most kills in the first set to win the Red Raiders.
The Jayhawks came back to win the second set, to level the match at a set apiece. The Red Raiders led the second set, but the Jayhawks took the following five points to win after a late timeout.
After that, TTU had three aces early in the third set to give them an 8-4 lead. The team continued their momentum and increased their lead to 15-10, forcing Kansas to take a timeout. Kansas then was able to pull together a run, but the Red Raiders won the set with kills from Junior Reagan Cooper and Junior Kenna Sauer.
The Red Raiders lead the match 2-1 heading into the fourth set. The Jayhawks went on an early 11-2 run. The Red Raiders led the set 13-11, but Kansas ultimately took the set 25-18, forcing a decisive fifth set.
Furthermore, Kansas dominated the final set, winning the last four points to win 3-2.
TTU vs. Kansas Game 2
The Red Raiders continued the series against Kansas Saturday, September 25. The team fell to the Jayhawks in five sets for the second straight game. They lost the sets 19-25, 14-25, 25-22, 25-15, and 15-9.
Although Kansas won, TTU tallied more kills, blocks, digs, and hitting percentages.
In the first set, the Red Raiders jumped to an early lead of 9-4. Their run continued to 18-12, forcing the Jayhawks to call a timeout. TTU won the frame with a solo block from Sauer.
Continuing the lead, the team leads Kansas to a timeout with a 9-3 lead. Cooper heated up in the second with seven kills and led the team to win the set with back-to-back kills.
The Jayhawks fought in the third set to force a fourth set. Both teams tied at 20 points, but Kansas pulled the following four points to win.
Kansas dominated the fourth frame, sending the teams to a decisive final set. The Jayhawks used three straight aces to pull an early lead of 10-5. They continued to string together runs to win the set.
In the final set, both teams battled, tying eight times in the frame. Sophomore Reese Rhodes gave TTU a one-point lead with an ace. To conclude, the Jayhawks strung together eight of the final nine points to win the match out of a media break.
Coming Up In Texas Tech Volleyball Big 12 Action
The Red Raiders travel to Waco, Texas, to face Baylor, Friday, October 1, and Saturday, October 2. Following the series, the team will travel back home for weekday games against Iowa State Thursday, October 7, and Friday, October 8.
Keep watch to see the women’s volleyball team continue to play in the conference schedule with a record of 10-5. 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+.
For other Campus Live volleyball updates, head to our last recap.
Click here for the Texas Tech volleyball schedule.
Written by Campus Live Intern Kaelea Pena