TEXAS TECH VOLLEYBALL
MATCH NOTES
against UConn, the Red Raiders’ highest attacking percentage since defeating South Florida in three sets on Sept. 9, 2006. DAVID JOINS ELITE COMPANY Since the Red Raiders joined the Big 12 in 1996, no Tech freshman has begun her career with doubledigit kill figures in back-to-back matches. That is until Breeann David. The Denver City product finished with 11 kills against TCU and followed with 14 the following day against UConn. David finished with a .500 hitting percentage against UConn as she was 14-for-24 on the attack en route to posting Tech’s highest individual hitting percentage since Barbara Conceicao recorded a .526 average on Sept. 11, 2009 against Gonzaga. FRESHMAN GET VALUABLE TIME AT TCU One thing Don Flora wanted to see while at TCU was how his young team of mainly freshmen and sophomores would respond in a competitive atmosphere. After Tech easily defeated Grambling State in the opening set, Flora went with a lineup to start the second frame that consisted of all freshmen. Tory Vaughan was the only Red Raider junior or senior to see action over the match’s final two sets as Tech played all 17 players that traveled that weekend. DOWDY NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 Senior Amanda Dowdy was recognized prior to the season as Tech’s only selection on the Preseason All-Big 12 team. Dowdy was among the top offensive players in the conference a year ago en route to be selected to the All-Big 12 first team following the season. This marks the second-straight season Dowdy has been honored on the preseason and first as a unanimous selection. MEYERS ADDS EXPERIENCE AT SETTER With such a young roster, the Red Raiders will rely on senior setter Karlyn Meyers at the setter posi-
tion. A two-year starter, Meyers is one of the mostaccomplished setters in school history as she is already among the top 10 all-time in career assists and assists per set average. RED RAIDERS WILL BE YOUNG Texas Tech will be one of the younger teams in the country as 15 of the program’s 21 players are listed as either a freshman or sophomore. Two of the squad’s six upperclassmen, juniors Ciara Gibson and Kelly Chiffer, will both redshirt this season, giving the Red Raiders only four upperclassmen on the court - seniors Amanda Dowdy and Karlyn Meyers and juniors Miara Cave and Tory Vaughan.
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2011 TEXAS TECH VOLLEYBALL
RED RAIDERS BOAST 12 NEWCOMERS Soon after his hire, Don Flora immediately hit the recruiting trail, traveling all over the country trying to build the Tech roster. The hard work paid off as the Red Raiders boast 12 newcomers to this year’s roster, including nine high school prospects.
FLORA ADDS VETERAN ASSISTANT IN CORONEL One of the first things Don Flora said he wanted once he arrived at Texas Tech was to hire another proven assistant. He got his wish when Jojit Coronel compiled the Tech staff. Coronel, the head coach at George Washington the previous 10 seasons, joins fellow assistant Beth Falls and director of operations Amy Gandy.
RANGEL BACK IN ACTION AFTER INJURY Dravon Rangel will be back in action for the first time in almost a year this week as the redshirt sophomore missed almost all of last season with a knee injury. Rangel played in two matches of the season-opening Rice Tournament before receiving a medical redshirt at the conclusion of the season. Rangel will be making her return nearly 15 minutes from her hometown of Grand Prairie.
CAVE PRIMED FOR STELLAR JUNIOR SEASON When asked who his most improved player was at the end of spring, Don Flora did not have to hesitate to say Miara Cave. Flora’s has described Cave’s spring as “going back to the basics” as the junior primarily worked on her footwork. The result has been a newfound confidence for Cave, who will be looking to improve on last season’s numbers where she was second on the team with 176 kills.
RED RAIDERS ADD SETTER TRANSFER, HRAGYIL Tech added depth to the setter position last spring as Nicole Hragyil became the first commitment of the Don Flora era, joining the program at midterm just in time to participate in spring drills. Hragyil adds depth for the Red Raiders as she will join Brandy Huskey as a backup to Karlyn Meyers. Both Hragyil and Huskey will also see time as a back row specialist.
DAVID LOOKS TO FOLLOW FAMILY LEGACY Breeann David’s commitment to Texas Tech last spring not only gave the program one of the top recruits in the country, but it continued a family legacy. David’s mother, the former Megan McGuire, was a standout volleyball athlete for Tech in the 1980s while her father, Stan David, starred on the football
TECH PICKED TO FINISH NINTH IN BIG 12 PLAY The Red Raiders did not receive the preseason vote of confidence they hoped for as Tech was picked to finish last in the nine-team Big 12 Conference. Texas was picked to win the conference championship in a vote of the league coaches. Iowa State and Oklahoma followed in a tie for second.
PLAYER TO WATCH - #13 BRANDY HUSKEY
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team during the same time before being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 1984 NFL Draft. Both her mother and aunt, Susan Kelly McGuire, are still among the top 10 in school history of every blocking category. David’s older sister, Leah David, is also the team’s student manager.