Texas Tech Athletics
Baylor
Red Raiders Scratch Out Five-Set Win At Baylor
October 01, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
Rachel Brummitt had 23 digs in Texas Tech's thrilling five-set win over Baylor, Wednesday night.
Oct. 1 , 2014
WACO, Texas -- The Texas Tech volleyball team, behind a season-high 19 team blocks, rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Baylor, on Wednesday night, in Waco, Texas.
Tonight's win was the first win in Waco for Texas Tech under head coach Don Flora, and the first for the program since 2004.
A crowd of 1,165 at the Ferrell Center watched the Red Raiders (14-1, 2-1) get off to a quick start, taking the first set, 26-24, behind seven total team blocks. Baylor responded in the second by holding Tech to a hitting percentage of -.027, on their way to tying the match with a 25-17 win. Baylor (10-6, 1-1) kept the momentum rolling in the third, becoming the first team this season to take set No. 3 from Tech, 25-21.
The Red Raiders responded in a big way, taking the fourth set, 25-15, behind another seven total blocks. In the fifth set, Baylor sprinted out to a 6-2 lead, but Tech battled back with a 6-0 run to take a 9-7 lead. Baylor then went on a 5-0 run of its own to take a 12-9 lead. The Red Raiders swung the momentum pendulum back in their direction with a 4-0 run to take a 13-12 lead, before finishing the comeback, 15-13.
Texas Tech is now 4-0 this season in five-set matches.
"When we fell behind in the fifth, I knew we could beat them to eight before the switch," Flora said. "We've battled like that all year, especially in the fifth set, so when we got back into that set, I knew we could get it done. I'm so proud of each and every one of them for the way they fought back. Just a great win."
Offensively, Jenna Allen led the way with 15 kills. Two other Red Raiders joined her in the double digits--Alyssa Ybanez recorded a career-high 13 kills, and Mikia Mills turned in 11 of her own. Tech had 52 kills compared to 64 from Baylor.
Emily Ruetter went the distance at the setter position, racking up 45 assists and eight digs.
"It says so much about this team to get this win," Flora said. "Baylor is such a tough place to play, so it was great to quiet the crowd at some big points. So many people across the board stepped up tonight. Meghan Stacy, Alyssa Ybanez had a career night and Whitney Ford gave us some great points. The list goes on. We've already seen that road wins will be at a premium in the conference this year, so this was such a huge win for us."
On the defensive side, the Red Raiders had their best performance of the season at the net, totaling 19 total team blocks, led by nine from Lauren Douglass and eight from Mills. Texas Tech held Baylor to a hitting percentage of .140, while totaling 73 digs--23 of which came from Rachel Brummitt. Carlie Foust also hit double digits in digs, recording 12.
Brummitt made perhaps the play of the night with the match tied at 12 in the fifth set. After getting hit in the face by a Baylor attack, she dove to reach the deflection from Ruetter, sending it over the net to keep the point alive, a point Tech eventually won.
Tech is now 12-1 this season when holding its opponent under a hitting percentage of .200.
Texas Tech will return home on Saturday, Oct. 4, to take on Kansas State. First serve is set for 3 p.m., at the United Supermarkets Arena.
