Tech set to host Red Raider Classic

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech will be on their home court for the first time this season as they host the annual Red Raider Classic beginning on Friday. The Red Raiders (6-3) welcome in UAlbany, Ole Miss and Incarnate Word to the United Supermarkets Arena to round out non-conference play.

Tech has gone 2-1 in each of the last three weekends and are looking to keep that momentum up before heading into Big 12 play next week. The Red Raiders will face UAlbany (5-4) at 12 p.m. on Friday before taking on Ole Miss (5-3) at 7 p.m. later that day. Tech will round out the tournament with a 12 p.m. match against Incarnate Word (3-6) on Saturday.

The Red Raiders have never faced UAlbany but have played both Ole Miss and Incarnate Word three times. The Rebels took the last meeting between the two schools in the 2017 NIVC Championship match while Tech took down Incarnate Word in their most recent battle in 2019.

Flagstaff Recap:
Tech had its third-straight 2-1 tournament finish in Flagstaff, Arizona last weekend. This was the Red Raiders' last away tournament before hosting their annual Red Raider Classic this weekend. Tech defeated Southern Utah and UC San Diego in five sets but fell 3-0 to host team NAU in between those two matches.

Reagan Engler and Aliyah McDonald were named to the All-Tournament Team for their respective performances as Engler continued her streak of matches with 10+ kills, becoming just the second Red Raider in the last 20 years to start each of the first nine matches with 10+ kills. Tech was able to stave off a Southern Utah comeback in the first match of the weekend.

The Red Raiders went up 2-0 before the Thunderbirds came back to force a fifth set, but the Red Raiders were able to escape with the win. Their second five-set victory was more back-and-forth but again the Red Raiders dominated the fifth set, hitting .571 to secure the win and improve to 6-3 on the year.

Quick Hits:

Reagan Engler has taken a big step up this season, currently leading the team in kills, points and double-doubles. Engler has been playing all six rotations for the first time in her career after making the move to outside hitter this offseason and has flourished. Engler is just the second Red Raider in the last 20 years to record 10+ kills in each of the first nine matches of a season.
Sierra Grizzle ranks 1st in the Big 12 for digs per set (4.65) and total digs (172).
As a team, Tech ranks 2nd in the Big 12 for total digs (520) and total attacks (1,271).
The Red Raiders are the only team in the country to have at least nine freshmen while also having zero true seniors. Tech has three graduate seniors and are one of just four teams in the country that has zero true seniors joining Princeton, Villanova and Memphis in this unique feat. Tech's nine freshmen are also the second most in the country behind St. Mary's, Pacific, Holy Cross and Wichita St. who all have 10.

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Players Mentioned

Reagan Engler

Sierra Grizzle

Aliyah McDonald