Set 1
The Cougars started the match on fire, going on a 7-1 run, led by a kill out of the middle from Burgess and an overpass kill by Mortensen. A double block on the outside wing by Hardy and Kate Prior extended BYU’s lead to 9-2. The Red Raiders were forced to call a timeout after they hit a long shot out of bounds, bringing the score to 10-2.
Out of the timeout, Texas Tech gained some momentum, scoring three unanswered points, until Hardy broke the visitors’ streak with a quick kill from the middle at 11-5. The women traded points until Little Chambers brought the teams into the media timeout at 15-8 with a kill on the outside, assisted by Po’uha.
Little Chambers didn’t let off the gas out of the timeout, contesting the Red Raiders with consecutive aces. Neither team went on a run for the next eight points, keeping the Cougars’ lead consistent with a score of 21-12.
After powerful swings from Mortensen and Little Chambers, Texas Tech called its second timeout of the game at 23-12. Following a tough serve from Hardy, Little Chambers put away the first set with an overpass kill at 25-12.
Set 2
A Burgess kill allowed the first point of the set to be awarded to the home team for the second time. A couple of kills and an ace by the visitors left BYU trailing early at 3-2. The Cougars weren’t behind for long, as they went on a 7-3 run highlighted by kills from Hardy, Prior and Callahan. The Red Raiders narrowed the gap to 10-9 with a few kills of their own.
A Texas Tech ace tied the Cougars at 12, and their 5-1 run put them into the lead going into the media timeout at 15-13. Despite a service error of the timeout, the momentum stayed with Texas Tech as they scored two unanswered points. A kill by Hardy, a double block by Prior and Burgess and another overpass kill by Little Chambers breathed life back into BYU, as the Red Raiders called their first timeout of the set at 17-17.
The women traded points once again until Callahan’s kill from the right side gave the Cougars a bit of a cushion at 20-18. A tough serve by Po’uha and a powerful overpass kill from Callahan persuaded Texas Tech to call another timeout with BYU up 23-21. Callahan sealed the second set win with her seventh kill of the day off the visitors’ block at 25-21.
Set 3
BYU started off with the first point in yet another set of the day, after Prior’s kill from the right side fell in the middle of Texas Tech’s side of the court. The women continued to trade points until Mortensen delivered the Cougars’ seventh overpass kill of the game, bringing the score to 6-3. Although the visitors managed to tie the score at seven points apiece, a kill out of the middle by Hardy put BYU back in the lead at 8-7.
Although the Cougars lost the lead for a few points, the teams continued to score back-and-forth until BYU’s 5-1 run put the home team back on top, highlighted by two kills in a row by Moretensen. The women entered the media timeout with the visitors trailing at 15-13.
The Red Raiders quickly tied up the score at 15-15 out of the timeout. Each team continued to tally points, keeping the score neck-and-neck. A long rally with several diving saves from the Cougars was brought to an end by a hard swing by Prior, putting the Cougars in the lead at 20-19.
Burgess and Callahan’s monster block forced Texas Tech to call a timeout at 22-20. Two kills by Burgess and a triple block on the wing ended the match at 25-20.
Up Next
The Cougars will stay at home in the Smith Fieldhouse for their next match, taking on the Wildcats of Arizona on Thursday, Nov. 19. The game will begin at 6:30 p.m. MST and streaming will be available on ESPN+.
