Texas Tech Athletics
Kansas State
Great Third Set Goes for Naught
November 08, 2009 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 8, 2009
Manhattan, Kan. - Starting its second match in 26 hours, Tech dropped a four-set tangle with Kansas State in volleyball action, 3-1, and falls to 2-21 on the season still yearning for a win in the powerhouse Big 12 Conference. The Wildcats improve to 10-14, 4-10 in league play.
The rescheduled match began at 6 p.m., less than 25 hours after the match with Colorado concluded at the United Spirit Arena last night. Despite the sluggish start, Tech dropped the first two sets, 25-17, the Red Raiders exploded in the third to win, 25-18, and played some of its best volleyball of the season as Hayley Ball blasted four kills in that frame to lead the way. A disappointing final frame found the team unable to keep pace with the firepower of the Wildcats. Kathleen Ludwig led all players with 17 kills and Kelsey Chipman had 13 for K-State. Lauren Mathewson was a vacuum on defense and finished with 19 digs.
Amanda Dowdy led the way offensively for Tech with 11 kills, and Miara Cave and Ball chipped in with 10 and eight, respectively. (Ball committed no errors on her way to a .500 hitting efficiency night and many of them in punishing fashion.)
Defensively, it was Dowdy and freshman Candice Neill, who earned her first start of the season, who led the way with nine and eight scoops along the back row. Tech's block game re-emerged as the team put back 10 points by way of the block assist. Barbara Conceicao finished with six to lead the team.
The squad will return home for an off-day on Monday and will then travel to No. 2 Texas for the usual Wednesday mid-week schedule in the Big 12. Tech's next home match is Saturday, Nov. 14 when Oklahoma comes to the USA for an 11:45 a.m. start time. Please note the schedule change.
