The No.1 Longhorns posted a season-high .407 hitting clip against the Red Raiders over the weekend as Texas cruised to a 3-0 sweep over Texas Tech on the road in Lubbock. [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] Texas (19-2, 12-0 Big 12) extended its winning streak to 15 games and earned its sixth Big 12 sweep of the season, eighth overall.
This weekend was familiar territory for the Longhorns as they easily handled the struggling Red Raiders through the match (25-12, 25-13, 25-17). During all three sets, Texas Tech was able to keep it close at the beginning, but could not control a streaking Longhorn offense that overwhelmed the error-prone Texas Tech squad.
Junior outside hitter Haley Eckerman posted another double-double against the Red Raiders and finished with 12 kills and 10 digs Saturday afternoon. She also added four service aces to her totals. Senior outside hitter Bailey Webster followed right behind with 10 kills for Texas. This past week, Eckerman earned Sports Imports/AVCA DI National Player of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors for her performance in the Longhorns’ win over Kansas last week. Eckerman posted 25 kills and 13 digs on the road against the Jayhawks.
In the opening set in Lubbock, the two teams played to a 5-5 tie before two service aces from Eckerman gave the Longhorns the lead for good. After trading off the next few scores, the Longhorns went on a 9-1 run to go up 23-11. Another kill by Eckerman put the Longhorns within reach of the set before an error by the Raiders gave the Longhorns the victory. Texas outhit Texas Tech .370 to .000 and posted 12 kills in set one with Eckerman and Webster combining for eight.
After the first set, the Longhorns never trailed. In set two, Texas jumped ahead quickly putting up a 6-1 lead, helped by three Texas Tech mistakes. The Red Raiders brought the score to within four but where unable to match the Longhorn’s offensive attack. Webster and freshman middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu each contributed four kills in the second set.
Set three was similar to the first two, the Red Raiders kept the score close at the beginning, but an 8-3 surge by the Texas offense put the final set, and the match, out of reach for Texas Tech. A kill by Eckerman gave the Longhorns the match point to ensure they stayed undefeated in Big 12 conference play.
Texas benefited on Saturday from an error filled performance by Texas Tech. The Red Raiders committed 21 errors that afternoon to the Longhorns’ five. The Texas defense held Texas Tech to a 0.076 hitting clip and 28 kills as the Red Raiders fell to 9-20 on the season and 2-11 in Big 12 conference play. Senior setter Hannah Allison notched a match-high 23 assists on Saturday and is averaging 7.32 assists per set this season. Ogbogu and junior middle blocker Khat Bell each contributed five kills in the victory.
Junior Breeann David and sophomore Jenna Allen let the Red Raider offense against the Longhorns. David finished with 13 kills while Allen finished with nine kills and 10 digs. Texas Tech is currently last in the Big 12, one game behind TCU.
Texas is sitting firmly in first place in the Big 12 going into the final few games of the season, holding a two game lead over Iowa State. With four games left in the regular season, Texas is looking for a perfect 16-0 conference record, a record the Longhorns after a late loss last season on the road against Iowa State.
This week, Texas will play host to West Virginia on Nov. 21 and Kansas State on Nov. 23. Three of the final four regular season games will be played in Austin before the NCAA Championships First and Second rounds begin in December. First serve against West Virginia is scheduled for 7 pm on Nov. 21 at Gregory Gym and will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network.
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