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Year-By-Year in the NCAA Tournament

Year    Round   Opponent        W//L    Match Score
1996    1st     Washington      L       5-15, 6-15, 9-15                    at Seattle, Wash.
1995    2nd     Florida         L       15-6, 15-13, 9-15, 5-15, 16-18      at Gainesville, Fla.
1995    1st     Arkansas State  W       15-2, 12-15, 10-15, 15-6, 15-11     at Lubbock, Texas
1992    1st     LSU             L       7-15, 8-15, 5-15
        at Lubbock, Texas
1991    2nd     LSU             L       6-15, 7-15, 10-15
        at Baton Rouge, La.
1991    1st     Georgia         W       15-5, 15-6, 15-4    
        at Lubbock, Texas
1990    2nd     LSU             L       11-15, 12-15, 5-15                  at Austin, Texas
1990    1st     UT-Arlington    W       16-14, 15-4, 16-14                  at Arlington, Texas
Texas Tech NCAA Tournament Record: 3-5 overall
NCAA Record in Lubbock: 2-1
NCAA Record in road games: 1-4  

NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES UNDER HEAD COACH JEFF NELSON

1995 FIRST ROUND vs. Arkansas State  at Lubbock, Texas
Arkansas State   2  15  15   6  11  Att: 538
Texas Tech      15  12  10  15  15

In a rematch of an early season matchup which saw Texas Tech defeat Arkansas State in three of four games, the Red Raiders needed to go the distance to defeat the visiting Lady Indians in first round NCAA Tournament action.

It looked like Sun Belt Conference Champion Arkansas State would be in for a long night as Texas Tech dominated the first game 15-2. But the Lady Indians gave Tech a scare as they came back to win the next two games.

Coach Jeff Nelson's squad regrouped to win the fourth and decisive fifth games in convincing fashion, 15-6 and 15-11 to claim the victory. Diane Owens led Texas Tech with 28 total kills.

The win vaulted Tech into a second round matchup against No. 4 Florida in Gainesville, Fla. It was only the second year in Texas Tech volleyball history that the Raiders advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

1995 SECOND ROUND    vs. Florida at Gainesville, Fla.
Texas Tech  15  15   9  5   16  Att: 660
Florida      6  13  15  15  18

Texas Tech jumped out to a quick start as the Red Raiders silenced the No. 4 Florida (33-1) home crowd with two significant victories in the first two games. But the Gators, playing in their undersized practice floor, prevailed over the final three games to earn a trip to the NCAA's third round.

Diane Owens scored on four aces and served eight straight Tech points including an ace on the 15th point to give TTU a victory in the first game. Tech rallied from behind to notch a victory in the second game to go up 2-0. And the Raiders even led 6-1 in the third game, but heavily favored Florida stormed back behind a loud home crowd. The game was won on a decisive final kill that was called in by the officials. Owens and Lacy Nye led Tech with 14 kills each.

"That was the best volleyball match I have ever seen," Tech coach Jeff Nelson said afterward. "I couldn't be more proud of the team and the way they played." 

1996 FIRST ROUND    vs. Washington  at Seattle, Wash.
Texas Tech   5   6   9  Att: 839
Washington  15  15  15

No. 18 Washington needed only 16 minutes to defeat No. 24 Texas Tech 15-5 in the first game as the Huskies used size and home court advantage to key a first round victory. Texas Tech could not recover after the first game as the Huskies swept Tech in three games.

"Washington threw us off early," Tech coach Jeff Nelson said. "We just did not compete, we didn't get the ball where we needed it to be and that's unusual."

Washington (23-7) scored 10 unanswered points to claim the victory as it outblocked the Raiders 15-5. As a team, Tech hit .065, while Washington finished at .344. Lacy Nye led Tech with 10 kills, while Jill Burness registered nine.

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