Texas Tech Athletics
Nebraska
Tech Battles No.11 Huskers to 3-1 Loss
October 29, 2003 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2003
The Texas Tech volleyball team gave the No. 11 Nebraska Cornhuskers a run for their money as they battled the Huskers to a 3-1 loss (30-24, 25-30, 25-30, 27-30) tonight at the United Spirit Arena. Tech and Nebraska both hit .256 on the night, Tech's best hitting percentage in conference play this season, with six Red Raiders hitting over .250 on the night.
Tech started out on an 8-1 run including two aces by Laura Grote. Tech edged the lead to 16-10 including a kill by Kelly Johnson. Nebraska went on a 4-0 run bringing the score to 17-14 but a Grote kill halted the run. Grote finished the game with 55 assists, two aces and a career-high 17 digs. Breanna Pursley laid down a kill to give Tech a 30-24 win over No. 11 Nebraska, giving Tech its first game win over the Huskers since the 2000 season.
Nebraska came back ready for a game win starting out on a 4-1 run in game two. Back to back kills off Pursley and Johnson brought the score to 14-12. With Tech within two points, Nebraska went on a 5-0 run bringing the score to 21-15. An ace and kill by Angela Mooney brought the score to 21-18. Mooney tallied seven kills on the night with eight digs. An assisted block gave the Huskers a 30-25 victory.
Tech started out on a 6-2 run bringing the score to 8-4 with a block by Pursley and Christina Miller. A Nebraska ace cut Tech's lead to 12-10 but Tech answered back bringing the score to 15-11. A kill by Johnson not only brought the score to 16-12 but also gave Johnson the honor as the all-time career leader with 1,341 career kills, surpassing Melissa McGehee's 1,333 set from 1999-2002. Johnson finished with a match-high 20 kills and five digs. A Tech error tied up the game at 23 where Nebraska would go on a 7-2 win to claim the third game, 30-25.
To kick off game four, a Pursley had three consecutive points to give Tech a 7-2 lead. At 9-9 the teams went point for point until Tech got a 17-14 lead on the Raiders. Tech brought the score to 21-20 off a kill by Pursley and an ace by Pursley brought the score to 24-21. Pursley had a great showing with 18 kills, 12 digs and a career high four blocks. Nebraska tied up the score at 26 and at game point killed the ball for a 30-27 victory.
Tech (9-12, 1-11) next heads to Waco, Texas to take on the Bears on Saturday at 7 p.m.
