Sept. 11, 1999

FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The Texas Tech volleyball team won its second match in the Nanook Classic Saturday as the Red Raiders defeated host Alaska-Fairbanks 15-4, 15-2, 15-7. The victory improves Texas Tech to 7-1 overall and drops Alaska-Fairbanks to 3-2 overall.

More importantly, the victory puts Texas Tech in position to win the Nanook Classic tournament championship outright with a victory tomorrow against Ball State. Tech is 2-0 in tournament action, Ball State is 1-1, Oregon State is 1-1 and Alaska-Fairbanks is 0-2.

The Red Raiders face Ball State in a 6 p.m. Alaska time match (9 p.m. CT) in the Patty Center while Oregon State faces Alaska-Fairbanks in the 8 p.m. Alaska time (11 p.m. CT) match.

With a victory in tomorrow's match against Ball State, Texas Tech head coach Jeff Nelson would reach career victory number 100. His career record in five seasons at Texas Tech is currently 99-45. Ironically, Nelson played volleyball and graduated from Ball State in 1986.

Tech jumped out to early leads in registering its seventh win of the season against Alaska-Fairbanks. The Red Raiders outhit (.264-.043), outdug (43-35) and outblocked (7-4) the host Nanooks. Tech finished with eight service aces in the match, a team-season high.

Freshman Ann Romjue led the Tech attack with eight kills and seven digs, freshman Jenny Donohoo contributed seven kills and eight digs, sophomore Skydra Orzen finished with 31 assists and 10 digs, junior Colleen Smith had five kills in seven attempts in one game and freshman Melissa McGehee registered four kills. Freshman Bonny Smith sparked the Red Raiders in game one with three service aces. She finished with a match and career-high four aces.

Kristen Sullivan led Alaska-Fairbanks with 10 kills.

--TTU--