The Texas Tech volleyball team (13-10, 3-7 Big 12) fell short in its two-game series against the Kansas State Wildcats (14-7, 5-5 Big 12) in Manhattan.
The Red Raiders lost game one on Wednesday 3-2 after nearly pulling off a reverse sweep of the Wildcats. In Thursday’s game, Tech won the first set but ultimately lost the game after Kansas State won the next three sets to take the match 3-1.
Game One Goes to Five Sets
In the first set, the Red Raiders held a slim 23-21 lead. Kansas State answered back with four straight points to take the first set 25-23.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early 6-3 lead in the second set. Tech fought back into contention when middle blocker Brooke Kanas recorded a kill to tie the set at 11. Later in the set, the Red Raiders were down 18-17. Kansas State would score seven of the next 10 points to take the set 25-20.
In the third set, Tech found itself down 18-14. Later, the Red Raiders would score six straight points to take the lead 22-19, but Kansas State answered with a 5-1 run to create a match point opportunity. Tech would respond by scoring the next three points to win the set 26-24 to avoid a sweep.
Late in the fourth set, Tech held a 22-17 lead. The Red Raiders would eventually force a fifth set on the heels of a 3-1 run to take the set 25-18. Middle blocker Brooke Kanas got the final kill to close the set.
The fifth set was a back-and-forth affair. Red Raider junior libero Alex Torres recorded an ace to give Tech an 11-10 lead. The Wildcats answered by scoring five straight points to take the match. Kansas State sophomore outside hitter and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, Aliyah Carter, scored the closing kill.
Tech Loses Game Two in Four Sets
Tech found itself up 14-11 midway through the first set. Later, Red Raider sophomore outside hitter Maddie O’Brien recorded an ace to give Tech a 21-18 lead. Junior outside hitter Caitlin Dugan gave the Red Raiders set point, and a Kansas State error gave Tech the set 25-21.
Late in the second set, a Wildcat attack error cut a Kansas State lead to 20-17. The Wildcats responded by going on a 5-1 run to win the second set 25-18. An Aliyah Carter kill gave the Wildcats set point, and a Tech attack error ended the set.
Tech jumped out to a 6-2 lead early in the third set, but the Wildcats scored the next eight points to erase the deficit and take a 10-6 lead. Three Kansas State errors helped the Red Raiders score the next four points to tie the set at 10. Later, a kill by Tech middle blocker Karrington Jones cut a Wildcat lead to 21-18. Kansas State would go on a 4-1 run to win set three 25-19.
Late in the fourth set, outside hitter Kenna Sauer recorded a kill that was followed by a Wildcat attack error that put the Red Raiders within two. Up 21-19, the Wildcats scored four straight points to take the match in four sets.
Up Next
The Red Raiders will return home to take on TCU (8-10, 2-6 Big 12). It will be Tech’s sixth Big 12 matchup of the season.
Notable Statistics
- Kenna Sauer recorded a double-double in both games. 13 kills and 11 digs in game one, and 17 kills with 19 digs in game two.
- Outside hitter Reagan Cooper notched 26 total kills through two games (12 in game one and 14 in game two).
- Libero KJ Adams, Karrington Jones, and Brooke Kanas all hit at an above .300 clip in game one.
- Aliyah Carter totaled 34 kills in two games for the Wildcats.
- The Red Raiders have played at least one five set game against all Big 12 opponents.
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