Sept. 7, 1998

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Texas Tech completed its sweep of the four-team Brion's Grill Invitational with a 3-0- 15-1, 15-4, 15-9 pasting of George Mason. The victory gave Texas Tech the tournament championship in its first invitational of the season. Texas Tech improves to 5-0 on the young season while George Mason drops to 0-3.

Senior setter Lisa Hilgers was named the tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Red Raiders to victory in all four matches. Junior Courtney Putnam and senior Kristen Holmes were selected to the all-tournament team.

Texas Tech used .340 hitting (45-12-97) to defeat the host Patriots. Putnam led Tech with 11 kills while Holmes tallied eight, Lori Garber finished with seven and Natalie Rives added six. Holmes led Texas Tech with 12 digs.

The Red Raiders held George Mason to .097 hitting and only 28 kills. Tech dominated until the last game when the Patriots mounted a charge. But the comeback was not enough as Texas Tech clamped down and swept the match.

The tournament victory was head coach Jeff Nelson's ninth all-time tournament title and his seventh when the Red Raiders won without losing a match.

HIGHLIGHTS
*Texas Tech won the four-match invitational without losing a game
(12-0 in overall games)
*Jeff Nelson's ninth tournament title and seventh without losing
a match
*Lisa Hilgers named MVP of Brion's Grill Invitational
*Courtney Putnam and Kristen Holmes named to all tournament