Oct. 5, 1999

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech travels to No. 21 Colorado (3-1 Big 12/9-4) for an 8 p.m. (7 p.m. MT) match Wednesday in Boulder and hosts Iowa State (0-4 Big 12/2-8) Saturday at Coronado High School. The match will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Red Raiders enter the week still searching for their first Big 12 victory at 10-6 overall and 0-4 in conference action.

With the state-of-the-art 15,500-seat United Spirit Arena nearing completion, Texas Tech will play at Lubbock's Coronado High School. The new arena is scheduled for a probable Nov. 8 opening and the first Texas Tech volleyball game to played there is scheduled for Nov. 13 against Colorado.

Texas Tech will also gain use of the United Spirit Arena's practice facility in November. The team will continue to practice in the Women's Gym until the facility is ready to open.

Lubbock Coronado High School, located on 34th Street (between Slide and Indiana) in Lubbock will be Tech's home for the next four scheduled matches through the end of October.

ROMJUE SETS CAREER-HIGH IN DIGS

Ann Romjue's 24 digs Saturday evening at Kansas were a career-high for the six-foot freshman. Her former career high was 21 digs in a four-game match against New Mexico on Sept. 3, 1999. Upon entering the weekend, Romjue was ranked second in the Big 12 Conference in digs at 3.76. Her 24 digs against Kansas improved her per game average to 3.92 dpg.

RED RAIDERS FINALLY TO CONCLUDE TREACHEROUS STRETCH

Including the upcoming match at No. 21 Colorado, Texas Tech will have played five ranked teams in its last seven matches. The stretch began against No. 25 Loyola Marymount, New Mexico, then three consecutive contests against the likes of No. 4 Nebraska, No. 24 Kansas State and No. 16 Texas A&M followed by a match at Kansas.

GARBER TO CRACK TOP BLOCKING LIST

Senior Lori Garber needs only nine total blocks to crack the Texas Tech school list for career blocks. Currently Garber has 193 career blocks while the low player on the school list is Sheila Solomon (1987-90) with 202 total. Additionally, Garber is ranked 12th all-time in the school records for career solo blocks with 42.

KANSAS HANDS TEXAS TECH DEFEAT...Jayhawks come away with 16-14, 12-15, 16-14, 15-5 victory

LAWRENCE, Kansas - Kansas earned a game three victory and took advantage of the momentum in registering a 16-14, 12-15, 16-14, 15-5 win against Texas Tech Saturday evening at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. The loss drops Texas Tech to 10-6 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12 Conference while Kansas improves to 11-4 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12.

Kansas, led by Mary Beth Albrecht's 23 kills and .340 hitting outblocked Tech 19-10 and outhit the Red Raiders .182 (74-35-214) to .163 (72-38-209).

Freshman Jenny Donohoo and freshman Ann Romjue both led Texas Tech with 13 kills apiece. Romjue collected a career-high 24 digs while Donohoo racked up 14. Junior Colleen Smith totaled 12 kills while junior Yolanda Cumbess finished with 10 kills in 16 attempts (.500 hitting percentage).

In game one, Tech jumped on top early with a 6-3 lead on three straight points but the Jayhawks rallied back to tie at 8-8 with four points of their own. Tech then regained the lead with consecutive kills from Yolanda Cumbess and Jenny Donohoo but Kansas rallied for a 12-10 lead and held on to register a 16-14 first game win, it's first against Tech since 1995.

Tech jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in game two but Kansas rallied to within a 12-10 deficit. Texas Tech registered a 15-12 win after taking advantage of a block assist from Ann Romjue and Yoland Cumbess and three KU attack errors.

Texas Tech came out blazing in game three as the Red Raiders built a 7-1 lead on two kills from Jenny Donohoo, two blocks and a Kate Jury service ace. But Kansas was not done. The Jayhawks battled back to a 13-13 tie and rallied to win 16-14 to go up 2-1 in the match.

Kansas used that momentum in jumping out to a 9-1 game four lead. Tech then battled back to within 9-5, the closest it would get as Kansas scored the next six points for a 15-5 win.

The match marked the first time the Red Raiders lost to Kansas in the four-year history of the Big 12 Conference. Prior to the matchup Texas Tech had won seven straight vs. the Jayhawks.

TEXAS A&M DEFEATS TEXAS TECH...Aggies outhit Red Raiders for 15-3, 15-10, 15-10 volleyball victory

No. 16 Texas A&M outhit Texas Tech .327-.153 en route to a 15-3, 15-10, 15-10 victory Wednesday at Lubbock’s Coronado High School. The loss drops Texas Tech to 10-5 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12 while Texas A&M improves to 11-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12.

The Red Raiders were playing their third ranked team in a row after playing No. 4 Nebraska Friday and No. 24 Kansas State Saturday. The match also marked the third match in six days, the most for any Big 12 Conference squad.

Texas A&M outhit the host Red Raiders .327 (48-14-104) to .153 (42-23-124). The Aggies jumped on Tech in game one, grabbing a 13-1 lead then secured a 15-3 win. Texas A&M fended off a late Tech comeback in game two for a 15-10 win. It was the Red Raiders who jumped on top in game three with a 5-1 lead but the Aggies rallied for a 15-10 win and their 11th victory on the season.

Outside hitter Ann Romjue led Texas Tech with 11 kills, 10 digs and a .318 hitting percentage. The freshman from Papillion, Neb. also notched four aces in game three. Junior Colleen Smith added nine kills while freshman Jenny Donohoo contributed eight kills. Senior Lori Garber had 10 digs and five blocks.

Texas A&M was led by Celia Howes’ match-high 15 kills and 11 digs while Amber Woolsey contributed 10 kills and Michelle Cole added 12 digs.

Tech is playing its home volleyball matches at Lubbock’s Coronado High School due to the construction of the United Spirit Arena, scheduled to open in November. The Red Raiders next play at Kansas on Saturday, Oct. 2 in Lawrence, Kansas.

NO. 24 K-STATE DEFEATS TEXAS TECH...Texas Tech finishes out week at 10-4 overall

MANHATTAN, Kansas - No. 24 Kansas State took advantage of 23 Texas Tech attack errors in registering a 15-10, 15-8, 15-1 victory Saturday against the Red Raiders in Ahearn Fieldhouse. The victory drops Texas Tech to 10-4 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12 while No. 24 Kansas State improved to 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12.

Texas Tech committed 23 attack errors and hit .153 (40-23-111) for the match. Kansas State registered .239 hitting (41-15-109) and outblocked Tech 8-4.

Tech was paced by Colleen Smith's 14 kills and Jenny Donohoo's 10 kills. Lori Garber added seven kills and four blocks for the visiting Red Raiders while Skydra Orzen contributed 10 digs.

Kansas State was led by Liz Wegner's 16 kills and Dawn Cady's 12.

NEBRASKA DEFEATS TEXAS TECH...No. 4 ranked Nebraska defeats host Red Raiders 9-15, 15-11, 15-7, 15-1

No. 4 ranked Nebraska used offense to defeat Texas Tech 9-15, 15-11, 15-7, 15-1 Friday evening at Coronado High School in Lubbock. The loss drops Texas Tech to 10-3 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12 Conference while the Cornhuskers improve to 9-3 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12. Texas Tech travels to Kansas State for a 7 p.m. match tomorrow (Saturday) in Manhattan, Kansas.

Texas Tech is currently in a three-match stretch where it will play three nationally ranked teams in a row- No. 4 Nebraska, No. 24 Kansas State and No. 16 Texas A&M.

The Red Raiders got off to an outstanding start as they hit .303 with 15 kills (five errors/33 attacks) in game and defeated the Cornhuskers 15-7 in game one. Tech held the Huskers to just .057 hitting and 11 attack errors in game one. But Nebraska stormed back to win game two 15-11, pulling away from an 11-11 tie.

Tech was led by six-foot-seven junior Colleen Smith’s nine kills. Senior middle blocker Lori Garber and freshman Ann Romjue both contributed eight kills while freshman Jenny Donohoo and junior Janelle Jones each added six apiece. Sophomore setter Skydra Orzen led Tech with a match-high 13 digs.

Nebraska’s Nancy Meendering led the Husker offense with 18 kills in 39 attempts (.333 percentage) while Jenny Kropp and Kim Behrends both added seven kills. Kropp, Tonia Tauke and Katie Jahnke each contributed six blocks apiece for Nebraska.

Nebraska outhit Tech .169-.100, outdug the Red Raiders 60-52 and outblocked them 17-11.

BAYLOR MATCH IN WACO MOVES TO OCT. 12

Originally scheduled for an October 13 match, the Texas Tech at Baylor match has been moved to Tuesday, October 12 in Waco, Texas. Match time is 7 p.m.

NELSON REACHES VICTORY NO. 100...Ball State graduate defeats his alma mater for 100th career victory, wins 10th career tournament title

Texas Tech head coach Jeff Nelson won his 100th career volleyball match Sunday with a 3-1 victory against Ball State. Ironically, the victory came against Nelson's alma mater. He played volleyball for the Cardinals and graduated from the Muncie, Ind. school in 1986. Nelson's career record now stands at 100-44 in his five years as head coach. The victory also gave him his 10th tournament title as Texas Tech's head coach.

TECH WINS NANOOK CLASSIC...Nelson wins 100th career match as Red Raiders defeat Ball State 3-0, Lori Garber, Colleen Smith named to all tournament team

Texas Tech placed five players indouble-digit kills as it defeated Ball State 15-7, 11-15, 15-7, 15-9 to win the Nanook Classic Volleyball tournament title outright Sunday at Alaska-Fairbanks' Patty Center. Tech won its 10th tournament title in the past five seasons.

The victory improves Texas Tech to 8-1 overall and drops Ball State to4-2 on the season. Tech finished the tournament with a 3-0 record, Oregon State finished second at 2-1, Ball State third at 1-2 and Alaska-Fairbanks finished last at 0-4.

The victory also gave Texas Tech head coach Jeff Nelson his 100th career victory and 10th tournament title in his five years as head coach. It came against his alma mater Ball State where he played volleyball and graduated in 1986.

Two Red Raiders were selected to the Nanook Classic seven-member all tournament squad- junior Colleen Smith and senior Lori Garber. Smith led the Red Raiders with career-highs of 19 kills and 10 blocks against Ball State while Garber finished with 12 kills, seven digs and five blocks. Junior Janelle Jones contributed 13 kills and a career-high 11 blocks, freshman Ann Romjue finished with 16 kills and 13 digs, freshman Jenny Donohoo had 12 kills and a match and career-high 18 kills and setter Skydra Orzen had 60 assists and 13 digs.

Texas Tech outhit Ball State .282-.191 on the match and outblocked the Cardinals 20-7.