Texas Tech Athletics
Oklahoma
Texas Tech Drops Close One to No. 25 Oklahoma
October 01, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 1, 2011
Box Score | Notes | 
Flora Postmatch
LUBBOCK, Texas - Since his hire last January, Don Flora had promised that Texas Tech would compete with the best teams in the country.
The first-year head coach proved his point Saturday night as the Red Raiders narrowly dropped a five-set (22-25, 25-16, 18-25, 25-19, 17-15) match to 25th-ranked Oklahoma in front of 1,105 fans at the United Spirit Arena.
"That was a gut-wrencher," Flora said following the match. "It was one of those where you think you're the best team in the fifth set and we're executing a high level then we made a couple mistakes at the wrong time but still had a shot. This was a huge step for our program, and I told the team to be proud because anyone in the country would have loved to watch that match."
The Red Raiders, who opened with wins in two of the first three sets, led 11-8 midway through the final frame until Oklahoma made a final run, surviving two Tech match points en route to a 17-15 victory.
The loss dropped Tech to 14-3 on the year and 0-2 in Big 12 play as the Red Raiders were unable to score their first win over a ranked opponent since the 2004 season.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, earned its second conference win of the week to improve to 16-3 overall and 3-0 in league play. The Sooners upset No. 8 Texas on Wednesday night.
Both teams finished with four-players in double-digits offensively as OU's Tara Dunn recorded a match-high 21 kills while Suzy Boulavasky had 17 and Sallie McLaurin and Morgan Reynolds posted 12 and 10, respectively.
Amanda Dowdy led Tech with 18 kills as the senior recorded her ninth-straight double-double thanks to a career-high 28 digs. Dowdy added a pair of aces and blocks while also posting a .161 hitting percentage.
Breeann David trailed Dowdy by one kill as the freshman drilled a season-high 17 while adding a pair of blocks and digs. Miara Cave and Aubree Piper joined her in double-figures as the duo added 11 and 10 kills respectively.
The two teams combined for nearly 200 digs altogether as OU's Maria Fernanda joined Dowdy for the match high with 28 from the libero position. Tory Vaughan helped boost the Tech back row with a career-high 26 digs while Nicole Hragyil added 14 as well.
Karlyn Meyers dished 49 assists on the night while adding six kills and 11 digs for her third double-double of the year and eighth of her career.
The match marked the second time Tech had gone five sets this week as the Red Raiders edged New Mexico, 3-2, on Monday night. The Red Raiders had not previously lost a match this year after winning the opening set.
The Red Raiders return to the court next Wednesday when Tech travels to Waco for a 7 p.m. match with Baylor at the Ferrell Center.
