Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Saint Mary's
Red Raiders back on the road
September 01, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
Tech heads to Sacramento for three matches
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Red Raiders go back on the road this weekend as they face St. Mary's (2-1) on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT, Sacramento State (0-3) on Friday at 9 p.m. CT, before capping the weekend against Nevada (0-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. All three matches will take place in Sacramento as part of the Sacramento State Invitational.
The Red Raiders have faced Sacramento State once before, losing that match in 2006, and have played Nevada four times, boasting a 3-1 record against the Wolfpack, with the last meeting coming in 2013. Texas Tech has never faced St. Mary's in volleyball. Sacramento State and Nevada had tough weekends, going a combined 0-5, while St. Mary's had a solid start to the season, going 2-1, and will be the only team in the field this weekend with a record above .500 to start the season.
Tech had a good showing against St. Thomas, an NCAA Tournament team just a year ago, winning in five sets after being able to stave off a reverse sweep in Laramie. Freshmen Sara Bowcutt and Elia Dinsmore shined in their collegiate debuts, with Bowcutt leading the team with 27 kills and 31.5 points through two matches, while Dinsmore had a great outing against St. Thomas, recording 14 kills and 12 digs while hitting .440 with three aces.
The tournament webpage can be found here. All games will be streamed on ESPN+ and have a link to follow the live stats.
QUICK HITS:
Texas Tech brought in a crop of six talented freshmen, a majority of whom have seen time early in Tech's two matches against Wyoming and St. Thomas. Bowcutt, Dinsmore and Faith Jordan have made the biggest impressions early on.
Alongside those freshmen, four transfers joined the team, another group that has made a quick impact, as Taylor Cook, Gretchen Sigman and Maggie Boyd look to be in the lineup early and often for Graystone's team. Boyd joins Texas Tech and indoor volleyball after spending four seasons at UCLA, where she was named a four-time First Team All-American, the 2026 AVCA Beach Player of the Year and a Beach National Champion. Her résumé is as impressive as they come in collegiate athletics, and her transition to the indoor game will be fun to watch. Boyd made an impact in her indoor debut, recording 16 digs and two aces through two matches.
Three Red Raiders enter their fourth season at Texas Tech. A rarity in today's transfer-heavy world, Reagan Engler, Katelyn Cochran and Emily Contreras will all provide a spark for the Red Raiders at some point throughout the season, as they know Graystone's system better than anyone.
Shelby Ignash, Kenna McKenzie and Maddie Smotherman will look to build on strong freshman campaigns in their second season at Texas Tech. Ignash and McKenzie shined near the latter part of the season, while Smotherman showed her value by coming in to serve in different rotations and making splashy plays on the back end of the defense.
Tatum Johnson and Taylor Bahnub didn't see a ton of action last season but made the most of their time as they look to continue to get into the lineup. Johnson, although undersized compared to a traditional middle, has a powerful swing and a vertical that more than makes up for the "lack" of height.
