KU Falls to Tech, 3-2, in Dig for a Cure

Oct. 28, 2006

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Four Jayhawks totaled 15 or more digs as Kansas volleyball lost a tough five-game match to Texas Tech, 30-27, 28-30, 30-22, 28-30 and 9-15, Saturday night at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. Despite the loss, the Jayhawks totaled 89 digs in the match to raise pledges and donations for the national breast cancer campaign `Dig For the Cure.’

In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, teams around the nation have been collecting pledges and donations for digs to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

With the loss, KU moved to 10-12 overall and 3-10 in Big 12 Conference play while the Red Raiders improved to 11-11 and 4-9 in league action.

“We had 89 digs, they had 68, we had more blocks, and the service aces are about even, but we just had too many errors,” KU head coach Ray Bechard said. “When the game is shortened to 15 points, you have to be very clean and efficient. You can’t give up an eight-point run in a 15-point game and expect to have success.”

“I thought we served well, I thought [Jamie] Mathewson who had 23 digs, played great defensively,” Bechard added. “I have to give Texas Tech some credit. [Philister] Sang was very good tonight. They stepped up in game five and we didn’t respond like we needed to.”

As a team, KU hit .200 for the match with 76 kills, 37 errors and 195 attempts. Tech swung at a .206 clip, totaling 72 kills and committing 30 errors on 204 attacks. The Jayhawks outblocked the Red Raiders 15 to 13 in the effort.

Sophomore Savannah Noyes led the Jayhawk offense with a career-high 23 kills on a .319 attack percentage and added five blocks (tied a career best with three solo). Junior Emily Brown followed up with 17 digs and 15 kills (.316) for her 12th double-double of the season.

Freshman Brittany Williams added 13 kills and senior Jana Correa had 12 to go with her 22 digs — just one short of her career best. Senior Megan Hill rounded out the top hitters with 10 kills and added a match-high six blocks, including a career-high four solo.

Senior Jamie Mathewson led all defensive players with 23 digs on the night. Redshirt freshman setter Katie Martincich added 15 digs and a match-best 68 assists, just one shy of her season high.

Tech senior Philister Sang totaled a match-best 27 kills and added 10 digs in the Red Raider victory. KU held off three Red Raider game-points in the Game Four, but Tech was able to tie the match with late offensive momentum. Down 4-2 in Game Five, the Red Raiders used an 8-0 run to lead 10-4 and take the game and match.

The Jayhawks continue Big 12 action Wednesday at No. 8 Texas. Match time at Gregory Gym in Austin, Texas, is set for 6:30 p.m.

-KU-