Texas Tech Athletics
West Virginia
Tech Suffers First Loss Of 2014, Falling To West Virginia
September 27, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
Mikia Mills and Breeann David combined for 16 kills in Texas Tech's loss to West Virginia, on Saturday.
Sept. 27, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The Texas Tech volleyball team fell for the first time in 2014, losing to West Virginia, 3-1, at the United Supermarkets Arena, on Saturday.
The Red Raiders (13-1, 1-1) dropped the first set, 25-22, and lost the second as well, 25-13. As they have done all year, the Red Raiders adjusted well during intermission, taking the third, 25-20. Tech still has yet to lose a third set in 2014.
"They won set one because of their outside hitters," Texas Tech head coach Don Flora said. "Their outsides really put it to us in the second set, which affected us way too much. Eventually, we got it squared away in set three and were doing fine in set four, we just have to finish."
In the fourth set, Texas Tech raced out to a 14-8 lead, and appeared headed for a fifth set, but West Virginia (11-4, 1-1) went on a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead, and eventually held off the Red Raiders, 25-22.
"I liked the way we fought back, as we have all year," Flora said. "I thought we were prepared, but just didn't execute toward the end of set one. I loved how they really battled and controlled the match in set three and led decisively in set four, but just didn't finish. That's the bummer. If we get to set five, I think we find a way."
Offensively, as a team, Texas Tech hit for a percentage of .067, its lowest percentage of the season. Mikia Mills led the way with 10 kills, and only two errors, for a percentage of .320. Lauren Douglass recorded nine kills, and Breeann David chipped in six. As a team, Texas Tech had 44 kills, compared to 53 from the Mountaineers.
Emily Ruetter entered the game at setter in the second set, and registered 28 assists, along with six digs.
On the defensive end, Texas Tech had seven blocks and 54 digs, led by 14 digs from Rachel Brummitt. Mills led the team in blocks, with four.
Texas Tech will hit the road for the first time in conference play this season, traveling to Waco, Texas, to face Baylor, on Wednesday, Oct. 1. First serve is set for 7 p.m., at the Ferrell Center.
