Volleyball Preview: Texas Tech vs. Texas A&M
October 26, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 26, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech returns to the court Wednesday night when the Red Raiders battle in-state rival Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. in the United Spirit Arena.
WEDNESDAY'S PROMOTIONS
Wednesday's match is Tech's Halloween Fright Night event as all fans wearing a costume will receive complementary admission to the match, while anyone bring two canned food items will also get into the match for free. Tech will offer a costume contest for all fans 15 or under with prizes to be rewarded to the top contestants following the match. All Guns Up Kids Club members will be admitted free as well.
WATCH THE ACTION LIVE
For the first time, Texas Tech will stream all 10 Texas Tech volleyball matches online for free. Fans from outside the Lubbock area can watch all the action live on RaiderVision All-Access, available online at www.texastech.com.
GAMETRACKER
Texas Tech fans can also keep up with LIVE statistics of every volleyball match through the Gametracker link on the volleyball schedule page at www.texastech.com.
TWITTER
The official Twitter location for Texas Tech Athletics is www.twitter.com/techathletics. Whether fans would like to mention @TechAthletics or keep up-to-date with the latest Texas Tech news, @TechAthletics is the ultimate news source for the Red Raider Volleyball program.
THE SERIES
Tech is 29-51 all-time against Texas A&M, losing seven-straight against the Aggies, including a 3-0 sweep earlier this season in College Station. The Red Raiders swept the Aggies, 3-0, in Lubbock on Nov. 18, 2006, in Tech's last victory over A&M in the series.
THE RED RAIDERS
The Red Raiders opened the second part of the Big 12 season with a 3-0 loss to Oklahoma last Saturday to drop to 3-17 on the year and 1-10 in Big 12 play. Tech will be making its debut under interim head coach Beth Falls, who was named to the position on Monday afternoon.
Preseason All-Big 12 selection Amanda Dowdy has powered the Tech offense with 4.00 kills per set and 4.48 points per set, both ranked fourth in the conference. Dowdy has led the team in kills in all but two matches this season, and her 4.42 kills per set in conference play is second in the league. She ranks 41st in the nation in kills per set and 46th in points per set.
Karlyn Meyers is currently eighth in the conference with a 9.11 assists per set average. Miara Cave and Aubree Piper are Tech's next offensive options besides Dowdy as the duo is averaging 1.80 and 1.82 kills per set each. On the defensive end, libero Jackie Vincent has been a consistent option for the Red Raiders, posting 230 digs on the year, while middle blocker Barbara Conceicao leads the squad with 1.00 blocks per set, ninth-highest in the conference. Dowdy has added 165 digs of her own.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
After losing its previous six matches, Texas A&M (10-11; 4-7) swept Colorado last Saturday to give the Aggies some momentum entering Wednesday night's match against Tech. A&M began the conference season winning three of its first four matches, including a 3-0 sweep of Tech on Sept. 25, but the Aggies proceeded to lose their next six matches.
The Aggies are led offensively by junior Kelsey Black, who is averaging 4.06 kills per set and has twice as many attempts as any other player. Lindsey Miller is is A&M's next option offensively with 2.10 kills per set. Allie Sawatzky is averaging 9.66 assists per set, while Tori Mellinger has dug 322 attemps for a 4.08 digs per set average.
Texas A&M is 2-3 on the road this season. Its four conference victories have come over then-No. 8 Texas, Texas Tech, and Colorado twice, once in Boulder then last weekend in College Station. Laurie Corbellie is in her 18th season with the Aggies, compiling a 373-180 record during that span.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Raiders travel to the Sunflower State for their next two matches, playing at Kansas this Saturday and at Kansas State next Wed., Nov. 3. Tech's match versus the Jayhawks is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first serve.
RECAPPING THE LAST MATCH
Oklahoma swept the Red Raiders, 3-0, last Saturday in the United Spirit Arena. Amanda Dowdy posted her sixth double-double of the season and ninth of her career with 13 kills and 11 digs. Jackie Vincent added 17 digs in the match.
NEBRASKA MATCH TIME MOVED
Texas Tech's next home match against 2nd-ranked Nebraska on Nov. 6 has been moved to a noon first serve due to the football team's 7 p.m. homecoming game against Missouri that night.
DOWDY POSTS ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Amanda Dowdy notched her sixth double-double of the season and the ninth of her career last Saturday against Oklahoma. The junior finished with 13 kills and 11 assists.
YOUNG FINDS SUCCESS AGAIN VERSUS OU
Justine Young has recorded her best two matches in Big 12 play against Oklahoma with nine kills and a season-high eight blocks against the Sooners on Sept. 22 that was followed by her 10 kill, four block performance last Saturday.
GANDY PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT COACH
Texas Tech interim head coach Beth Falls filled the program's open coaching slot with the promotion of director of operations Amy Gandy to assistant coach. After ending her four-year playing career at Tech in 2006, Gandy was hired during the 2009 season to handle to business dealings of the program.
