One at a time — that’s how Texas Tech volleyball coach Trish Knight is approaching the gauntlet of matches the Red Raiders have to go through during the weekend.
As if playing one Big 12 Conference match wasn’t difficult enough for a team without a conference win, Tech has the daunting task of playing back-to-back matches this weekend — the Red Raiders hosts Colorado at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the United Spirit Arena then travel to face Kansas State for a make-up match at 6 p.m. in Manhattan, Kan.
“The girls worked hard all week and will be prepared to face CU,” Knight said. “After that match I will give them a scouting report on Kansas State because we can’t make them focus on two matches at once or else we won’t have the right mindset going into the weekend.”
On Saturday, Tech (2-19, 0-12 in Big 12 play) faces the Buffaloes for the second time this season. CU also is the last Big 12 team the Red Raiders defeated, as Tech is on a 51-match losing streak to Big 12 teams.
The K-State make-up match is a result of the spread of flu-like symptoms among the Red Raiders back in September. Tech had to cancel the original match against Kansas State that was scheduled for Sept. 23 because too many of the players were sick.
Having back-to-back matches in two days will be tough, but in one of those contest, Tech players may have some confidence going in.
Tech has had some success against CU (6-16, 1-12). Tech’s one set win in Big 12 play this season came against the Buffaloes on Oct. 14 in Boulder, Colo.
That last Big 12 win for Tech came in the 2007 home opener against Colorado.
“We did play well against Colorado the last time we played them, but we started off kind of slow,” Tech libero Jenn Goehry said. “We had the lead in game one and then lost and won game two. So I think if we would have come out strong and ready from the beginning we would have won that match.”
However, the Red Raiders have not had the opportunity to measure themselves against K-State (8-14, 2-10).
Canceling the Sept. 23 match against Kansas State leaves the Wildcats as the only Big 12 team Tech has not faced this season.
But having to get on a plane the same night of the CU match does not work in Tech’s favor.
Tech coaches said the flight from Lubbock to Manhattan will have an effect on the team.
The Red Raiders have had problems getting off to good starts, something that will be even harder to accomplish with the limited rest between the two matches.
Players and coaches believe the key on Sunday will be whether the team will have the energy to compete with K-State after playing CU.
Outside hitter Caroline Courtney said despite the hectic weekend, the extra work during the bye week will come in handy during both matches. Tech did not have the usual Wednesday match scheduled this week.
“We have been working really hard on maintaining momentum and picking up our enthusiasm,” she said. “We work on that in practice and we do a good job of it, now we just need to go out and apply it to the match. We are the kind of team that is going to keep working until we pull out a win.”
Next week doesn’t seem to get easier either — the Red Raiders travel to Austin Wednesday to take on No. 2 Texas, then return to Lubbock to host Oklahoma on Nov. 14.
“It’s going to be tough on them mentally,” Knight said. “Playing back-to-back matches is something they aren’t used to and something they haven’t had to do since club and high school volleyball. I don’t know how they will handle that, but they may just thrive on it.”
