Last time the Texas Tech volleyball team had some time off, the Red Raiders were limping into their bye week, literally.
Tech had to postpone its Sept. 23 meeting against Kansas State because of a spread of flu-like symptoms among players.
This time, the third set during the Baylor match Saturday has the Red Raiders easing into their most recent bye week with no Wednesday match scheduled.
“We’re improving and the neat thing is that we’re starting to see the things that we need to do together on our side of the court,” Tech coach Trish Knight said. “I’m hoping that it’s going to pay off and will lead to some good things.”
It could lead to some good things for Tech — like ending a 51-match losing streak to Big 12 Conference teams. Tech’s next opponent is Colorado on Saturday at the United Spirit Arena.
The off week will be much different this time as Tech is peaking at the right time with an opponent waiting that Knight said her team is prepared to beat.
Knight’s team has high hopes of ending that 51-match losing streak to Big 12 teams, a streak that dates back to Tech’s 2007 opener. That’s also when the Red Raiders’ last Big 12 win was, and it was against Colorado.
Despite both matches being losses, recent performances against top opponents No. 10 Nebraska and No. 20 Baylor have players as confident as they have been all season.
Tech libero Candice Neill said a strong work ethic in practice should lead to a solid performance this weekend.
“We are definitely going to take advantage of the day off,” she said. “We are really just focusing on little things right now. In practice we will work on everything that we’ve done badly, so when it comes time for this weekend when we play Colorado, the little things aren’t going to be a problem like they were last time.”
Being at full strength will help out the cause.
Last Saturday’s match against No. 20 Baylor saw the return of outside hitter Miara Cave, who missed the Nebraska game because of illness.
Other things have improved as well, with Knight pointing out that communication on the court is better and kills came from a number of players besides Amanda Dowdy.
Although the Red Raiders have played their best against the top programs in the conference, slow starts continue to plague the team. Tech lost the first two sets to Baylor 25-17 and 25-20, respectively. But the Red Raiders were leading the third set at one point 23-22 before ultimately losing.
“We just need to come out pumped,” Neill said. “If we came out expecting to win or more excited about playing, then I think that would’ve definitely boosted our play in those matches in the beginning of each game.”
Another note as the Red Raiders enter the bye week is their remaining schedule.
After Tech plays Colorado Saturday, they have to turn around quickly for a make-up match at K-State the next day. Then on short rest, play the usual Wednesday match at Texas.
If the Red Raiders do not want to finish two consecutive seasons without a Big 12 win, they have eight matches to turn their fortunes around.
“We’ve played very well in recent matches,” Knight said. “After looking at Colorado in the past couple of weeks, I have an idea of what we’re going to do against those guys. I just hope that we keep the right amount of confidence this week and we will be fine.”
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