The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
No. 2 Volleyball preview: Texas Tech [Oct. 9, 2014]
10.08.2014 | Volleyball
Texas will host Texas Tech on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
Match 13: Texas Tech at No. 2 Texas
Gregory Gymnasium (4,000) – Austin, Texas
Oct. 9, 2014, 7 p.m. CT
Match #13: Texas Tech
When: Thursday, Oct. 9 – 7 p.m.
Where: Austin, Texas (Gregory Gym)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Television: Longhorn Network – Nell Fortner (Analyst) and Tyler Denning (Play-by-play)
Live Audio: CLICK HERE
All-Time Series: Texas leads Texas Tech, 76-9-2
-Texas is coming off its second match in three days with a 3-0 defeat of Baylor in Austin on Tuesday night. Senior Haley Eckerman and sophomore Chiaka Ogbogu paced the Longhorns with seven kills apiece, while junior Amy Neal and freshman Cat McCoy led with six digs each and junior Molly McCage had five blocks. As a team, UT posted its highest hitting percentage (.473) and fewest attack errors (4) all season.
TEXAS vs. TEXAS TECH
-The last time Texas Tech defeated Texas was on Nov. 1, 2000. The Red Raiders won both matches that year.
-Texas' winning streak over Texas Tech is 26.
-Jerritt Elliott has never lost to the Red Raiders while head coach at Texas.
-Texas and Texas Tech have met every year since Longhorn volleyball began in 1976.
-The teams first met on Oct. 1, 1976. The result was a 15-6, 9-15 tie
SERIES QUICK FACTS
Overall: Texas, 76-9-2
Home: 35-3
Away: 34-2
Neutral: 7-4-2
Under Jerritt Elliott: 26-0
Media Availability Quotes
Texas head Coach Jerritt Elliot:
On challenges of having three matches in five days: This gives us an opportunity to have shorter turnaround time, which is the NCAA Tournament; we've got to be good at that. We will go through some routines today, we won't go as hard physically, but will show them some things on film and get them prepared for Tech tomorrow.
On the hidden bonus that back-to-back matches are similar to the NCAA Tournament: Yes, without our Wednesday-Saturday, we don't get to play back-to-back really. So this is the only opportunity, or as close as we can get to replicate that, get them used to it and know what that turn-around time is—especially for our freshman like Cat McCoy.
On if this team is where he wants them to be focus-wise: I think we're making strides. I think we have started to improve tremendous amount. We've started to see that the routines are getting better. That's a lot attributed to solidifying our lineup and finding the same people over and over again. I think their mentality is right, but they obviously have a few months to improve and get a lot better.
On controlling the whole match against Baylor: I thought we played really well. Baylor is a solid team and they have some good wins. I thought a lot of that had to do in-part with how we played; we were steady, had good block touches, served the pass really well and just stayed on them. We put a lot of pressure on them. So consistency was good. I'm glad they were able to emotionally rise-up to the challenge of that and stay through that because that was a big challenge that we have focus from the pregame-on.
On if this team reminds him of any past team he has coached: You know, it's so different and the landscape every year is so different in terms of the level of talent around the country. The closest this team replicates is the 2009 team in terms of just the balance; not the personnel by any means. You saw last night how we are starting to move the ball around, we've got good middle attacks now, we've got the right side of the ball and it's tough to set up and kind of do things with blocking schemes in our 6-2. I like what we are doing with our ball control and I think our setting has improved over the last two matches. There is a good comfort with us.
On if Tech brings any concerns: They play in spurts. I think this is such a game of momentum and with games of 25 points, a lot of it has to do with the way you handle yourself on your side. We talk about that primarily even when we are playing a Penn State or a Stanford. We're in the situation where, for us, it's important for us to understand what we are trying to accomplish, let go of the last play, try to execute, and run the patterns with the most preciseness as possible.
Texas So. Setter Chloe Collins:
On what she is looking forward to on the season: As far as conference goes, I'm just looking forward to the competition within the Big 12 and us competing against other teams. I'm really excited for the OU games because the UT-OU rivalry is really big.
On how big of a challenge this week is for them: I think it's a mental test for us just to see how well we prepare. Like Jerritt said, it's a good replica of what would be towards the NCAA tournament, as far as our routines go and how we prepare for that.
On the team's focus: It's just more of focusing on our side and what we do during practice to transfer that into the match. I think that if we really focus on those little things that we'll do well no matter who is on the other side of the net.
