The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Eckerman's 23 kills power No. 8 Volleyball past Texas Tech, 3-0
11.09.2011 | Volleyball
Nov. 9, 2011
LUBBOCK, Texas - Freshman outside hitter Haley Eckerman posted a career-high 23 kills and hit a career-best .595 as No. 8 Texas rolled past Texas Tech, 3-0, Wednesday night at United Spirit Arena. The 25-16, 25-15, 25-18 victory improved the Longhorns to 17-4 on the year and 10-1 in Big 12 action, while the Red Raiders fell to 15-12 overall and 1-11 in league play.
Eckerman committed just one attack error on 37 swings and added two blocks and a service ace to her career night. Senior All-America middle blocker Rachael Adams posted the second-largest kill total with six kills and a .556 attack mark. Sophomore setter Hannah Allison set the Horns to a .396 hitting percentage, posted 39 assists, eight digs and a career-high five kills in the win.
The Horns came out of the gate hot to open the first, using seven kills and a solo block by Eckerman to claim a 9-2 advantage. Tech shrank the lead to four briefly before UT ballooned the lead to 23-14 on back-to-back Adams kills and eventually closed out the set, 25-16.
Texas kept things rolling in the second stanza, utilizing the serve of junior opposite hitter Sha'Dare McNeal and taking advantage of five Tech miscues to capture a 9-1 edge. The Red Raiders fought back to close the margin to two at the 12-10 mark, but the Horns responded with five kills down the stretch by Eckerman to earn a 25-15 set victory.
Tech kept the tally tight in the third, holding Texas to a two-point lead at the 18-16 mark. Eckerman answered the call late in the set, connecting for four kills and a match-ending service ace to propel Texas to a 25-18 win.
Texas returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 12 when it plays host to Kansas State. First serve is set for 4 p.m. Central on Longhorn Network.
POST-MATCH NOTES
- The victory improved Texas' all-time record against Texas Tech to 72-9-2 and 32-2 in Lubbock.
- The win improved head coach Jerritt Elliott's career record against in-state opponents to 86-8.
- Haley Eckerman recorded new career-high totals with her 23 kills and .595 hitting percentage.
- Hannah Allison posted a career-best five kills in the victory.
- Texas out-hit Tech, .396-to-.126 and out-blocked the Red Raiders 8.0-to-1.0.
