The Texas Tech volleyball team (11-10, 3-6) evaded a reverse sweep attempt by West Virginia University (8-12, 2-7) on Saturday at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia.
According to Tech Athletics, the win will be the last game the Red Raiders will have to play outside of Texas this season.
Late in the fifth set, the Red Raiders and Mountaineers were tied 13-13, the 11th tie of the set. Blocks from graduate students Emily Merrick and Aliyah McDonald forced West Virginia to use a timeout and lead Tech by one point.
Coming out of a timeout, graduate student Mia Wesley hit the winning ace to give the Red Raiders a five-set victory.
Merrick and Wesley were second and third on the team with nine and eight kills, respectively, according to Tech Athletics.
Before this final set, Tech took an early 2-0 lead and won the first two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-15, respectively. Junior Bryn Williams led the team’s attack in both sets with eight kills.
According to Tech Athletics, Williams finished the day with 12 kills and 12 digs, her third double-double of the season.
West Virginia fought back, taking the third and fourth sets by scores of 25-15 and 25-16, respectively. Senior Haley Green and juniors Laila Ibrahim and Cassidy Tanton combined for 21 kills in the two sets.
Green led the Mountaineers overall with 17 kills on the day. However, Green and Tanton each recorded double-doubles, with Green recording 14 kills and 12 digs and Tanton recording 11 kills and 11 blocks.
Graduate student setter Lauren Dello also had a double-double for West Virginia with 46 assists and 14 digs.
The Techs return to Lubbock for their next game, taking on No. 9 Kansas University on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
