The Texas Tech volleyball team split its two game series against Iowa State. The Red Raiders improved to 12-7 on the season and 2-4 in Big 12 play.
The hard-fought series saw the Red Raiders play in their fourth five-set match since Big 12 play began. A total of nine sets were played between Tech and Iowa state, none of them were won by more than five points.
Red Raiders Lose Game One in Five Sets
Behind outside hitter Kenna Sauer’s five kills, the Red Raiders took the first set over the Cyclones 25-21.
In the second set, Tech held a 14-11 lead until Iowa State went on a 9-2 run to put the Cyclones up 20-16. The momentum carried into the rest of the set, and the Cyclones took set two by a score of 25-20.
Late in the third set, the Cyclones went on a 6-2 run to take a 20-17 lead. Later on, the Red Raiders were able to defend one set point, but Iowa State middle blocker Canderelia Herrera would get the final kill to take the set 25-23 giving the Cyclones a 2-1 lead.
Set four saw the Red Raiders build a 24-20 lead, but Iowa State would rally to score the next four points to tie the set at 24. Tech would score the next two points to take the set 26-24 with Kenna Sauer getting the final kill.
In the fifth set, Iowa State outside hitter Kenzie Matz tallied back-to-back kills to tie the set and fend off the Red Raiders’ match point opportunities. The Cyclones fought off a total of four match point opportunities for Tech and took the final set 19-17 giving Iowa State the 3-2 victory.
Tech Takes Game Two in Four Sets
The Red Raiders came out with a 4-0 run in the first set. Later in the set, outside hitter Maddie O’Brien recorded an ace to put Tech up 20-15. After some back-and-forth action, the Red Raiders held on to take set one 25-22.
A back-and-forth set two saw the Cyclones hold a 22-20 advantage late. The Red Raiders scored the next three points including two kills and a block-assist by Kenna Sauer. Libero KJ Adams tallied an ace to give Tech a set point opportunity. Sauer got the final kill to take the set 25-23 giving the Red Raiders a 2-0 lead.
In the third set, Tech trailed by as much as 10 points. Tech railed off nine straight points to shrink the deficit to one, but the Cyclones avoided a potential sweep by scoring six of the final nine points to take the set 25-21.
The Cyclones held a 19-16 lead late in the fourth set, but the Red Raiders answered by going on a 9-3 run to close out the set giving Tech its second Big 12 victory of the season.
Comments From the Red Raiders
Kenna Sauer recorded 20 kills in back-to-back games against the Cyclones.
Sauer said she’s happy to be performing at a high level but she owes it to her teammates for having a lot of energy.
“This team has a lot of energy, it’s really fun to play,” Sauer said. “You know, I think I just want to win for everybody.”
Tech has played in four five-set matches and two four-set matches since beginning Big 12 play.
Head coach Tony Grayston said getting a weekend of rest will help the team regain some energy.
“We played six matches, and we’ve gone five four times so we played 28 out of 30 possible sets so far,” Graystone said. “So I know this kid [Kenna Sauer] is gassed and we need to get her some time off.”
Up Next
The Red Raiders will travel to Norman, Oklahoma to take on the Sooners for its third Big 12 matchup.
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