University of Missouri
Texas Tech
Tigers Sweep Tech In Lubbock
11/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 14, 2001
Lubbock, Texas.-
The University of Missouri volleyball team used 14 kills and
nine digs by junior middle blocker Christi Myers en route to a 3-0 (30-23,
31-29, 30-23) sweep over the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Wednesday night. The
win moves the Tigers to 20-8 overall and 10-8 in the Big 12 conference while
Texas Tech falls to 16-11 and 7-9 in the Big 12. The Tigers have now won two
straight matches and have two matches remaining on their regular season
schedule. Head coach Susan Kreklow, who picked up her 500th career women's volleyball win on Wednesday, said she was very pleased with the tempo
and energy the Tigers played with in the one hour and twenty-eight minute
affair.
"We showed good balance and intensity tonight," Kreklow said. " The offensive tempo and our blocking were very good and we need to continue to play with this kind of energy."
The Tigers would jump out to an early 5-2 lead only to watch Tech go on a 10-2 run of their own to take a 12-7 Game 1 lead. The Tigers would dominate from that point on though, going on a 23-11 run and take the opening stanza, 30-23. Junior middle blocker Christi Myers would pace a well-balanced Mizzou offensive attack putting down five kills on 14 Game 1 swings, good for a .357 percentage. The Tigers could manage only a .167 hitting percentage, but would hold Tech to a .088 mark in the game.
Game 2 was a back-and-forth battle with neither team leading by more than four points throughout the game. The two squads would eventually battle to a 29-29 tie. However, Mary Lauren Smith would then put down her fifth kill of the game and Myers would record a service ace to give the Tigers a 31-29 Game 2 win and a 2-0 lead in the match. Sophomore Ashlee Johns also pitched in with five kills in the game while Naaron Branson slated two block solos.
Mizzou would jump out to an 11-5 lead to open Game 3 after block assists by Krista Johnson and Chrissy Elder and would not look back taking the game, 30-23. Myers would have a great game putting down seven kills on nine swings and recorded five digs as the Tigers recorded a .372 hitting percentage as a team in the game.
Johns and Myers would pace the Tiger offensive attack on the night with 14 and 12 kills while senior Naaron Branson had a huge night at the net. Branson recorded two solo blocks and three block assists while the leading Mizzou to nine total team blocks.
The Tigers will have Saturday off and will then welcome No. 22 Kansas State to the Hearnes Center for senior night on Wed., Nov. 21 in the Hearnes Center. This marks the first time Tiger squads have recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1982-83 and the win bolsters the Tigers chances of gaining an at large bid in the NCAA tournament enormously. For ticket information, call 1-800-CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.
