By Branson Nash
Texas Tech and West Virginia battled to a seasoning-opening series split over the course of two days inside the United Supermarkets Arena. Texas Tech came out red-hot on Thursday and never looked back. The Red Raiders ran away with a sweep, 25-17, 25-23, 25-22. However, Tech was unable to keep the momentum going on senior night Friday. After Tech took set one, the Mountaineers were able to turn things around, winning the next three to take the match, 19-25, 25-21, 25-23, 27-25.
Red Raiders Start Season 1-0
On opening night, 485 socially distant fans were on site to see the new team and the brand new hardwood at the United Supermarkets Arena. What they saw did not disappoint, as the Red Raiders swept the Mountaineers in three sets.
West Virginia, the unanimously predicted last-place team in the conference, got off to a quick start in set one, taking the first four points. However, the Red Raiders answered that with an 8-1 run that featured two aces by sophomore Lindsey Dodson, who got playing time in all three sets, accumulating 10 digs.
The Red Raiders would not relinquish the lead in the remainder of the set as Alilison Bloss, who got married over the offseason to Texas Tech tennis player Justin Bloss, would send down two kills and an ace late, as Tech took the set 25-17. Bloss finished the match with three kills and 1.5 blocks.
The second set started off back and forth, and the two teams were dead-locked at 8-8. At that point, Tech went on an 8-2 run thanks to two kills by all-Big 12 preseason selection Brooke Kanas and two errors by West Virginia. Kansas accumulated four kills and a block assist in the set and ultimately finished with eight kills and four block assists.
The Mountaineers kept the set close, but a kill on a 24-23 set point by Washington State transfer Reagan Cooper, who finished the match hitting .438, put the Red Raiders up 2-0.
It appeared Tech would run away with set three easily, being up 24-17 with the match on the line. However, the Mountaineers strung together a 5-0 run after it appeared Caitlin Dugan won the game for the Red Raiders on a kill attempt, but replay showed that the ball grazed her arm on the way outside of the white line. Dugan admitted after the game that she knew the call would get overturned, and used that to help her team zone into the game on the sidelines.
Dugan harnessed that motivation to get the kill on a 24-22 match point, her team leading ninth of the night, to finish off the sweep for the Red Raiders. The Mountaineers helped out Tech all night, accumulating 27 errors over the course of the three sets.
Mountaineers Bounce Back
It appeared after one set on Friday that the Red Raiders were well on their way to a series sweep, taking set one 25-19. Bloss led the Red Raiders in the set with four kills and junior Alex Kirby was close behind with three. The two led the team for the match in the category, Bloss with 12 and Kirby with 11. Kirby also added 48 assists for Tech.
Set two started off in a tight affair, with the Mountaineers leading 15-14. That’s when Tech became their own worst enemy. The Red Raiders gave West Virginia four points off of errors late in the set, as the Mountaineers would take the set 25-21. Tech finished with 30 errors in the match.
Tech seemed to be on their way to a 2-1 lead in the match, holding a 21-18 lead in set three. After a timeout, the Mountaineers were able to turn the tide around late, going on a 7-2 run to close and win the set 25-23. The run was aided by three Texas Tech errors. Briana Lynch earned the last two points for West Virginia. She finished with a match-high 15 kills on the night.
With their backs against the wall in the fourth set, head coach Tony Graystone went to some new faces to provide a spark for his team. Junior Kiari Gier, who missed most of last season with an injury, and sophomore Cadi Boyer got their first action of the season late in the match. Another noticeable change for the Red Raiders was Dodson’s switch from a defensive specialist to the libero position, which is usually run by senior Emerson Solano. Solano did not return to the match after the switch.
Facing match point, down 24-20, the Red Raiders found their spark. Thanks to kills by Kanas, Bloss, and Cooper, combined with a block from Bloss, the Red Raiders were able to tie the set at 24 a piece. However, West Virginia was able to regroup quickly, getting three of the next four points, and finishing off the match with back-to-back kills by Emmy Ogogor.
Up Next
Tech will get a six day break before facing their first road contest of the season, in Ames, Iowa, against Iowa State on October 2nd.
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