LUBBOCK, Texas – It looked like the Green Bay volleyball team might finish their weekend in Texas with a pair of wins, but the Phoenix fell to the Texas Tech Red Raiders three sets to one (20-25, 25-15, 24-26, 23-25). Green Bay held leads late in the third and fourth sets, but the hosts battled back and secured the win.
The Green Bay offense was again led by the duo of Cora Behnke and Danilynn Schell. Behnke finished with 15 kills while accumulating a hitting percentage of .324, and Schell had 13 while hitting .367. Defensively, GB had three players reach double figures in digs, including Abby Gardner's 18, 14 from Calli Gentry, and 10 more from Kendall Schara. From the front row, Ellie Kurpeikis and Schell contributed five blocks each. Gentry led the Phoenix with 33 assists in the match.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The start of the match was a forecast of things to come, with both teams trading points throughout most of the set. Texas Tech used a 6-2 in the middle of the set to grab a 19-15 lead that would be the difference maker. The Red Raiders closed out the set 25-20.
SET 2 | Green Bay fired back from a first-set loss to take the second set in dominant fashion, 25-15, tying the match at one set apiece. The Phoenix scored the first five points of the match and cruised to victory thanks to a .429 hitting percentage.
SET 3 | The Phoenix had the hot hand to start in the third set, grabbing a 19-12 lead. Unfortunately, Texas Tech flipped the script, and outscored GB 14-5 down the stretch to take a 2-1 set advantage.
SET 4 | The fourth set was almost identical to the third with the Phoenix jumping ahead 18-12 before Texas Tech would mount another comeback. The hosts ended up winning the set 25-23 and concluding a 3-1 win.
GAME NOTES
» Kennedy Schmitz, Gardner, and Gentry each had two aces in the match.
» The two teams were extremely close offensively, with GB hitting .218 to Texas Tech's .226.
» The Phoenix finished with eight blocks to the Red Raiders' seven.
UP NEXT
Green Bay will have one more weekend on the road before their home opener, the Chippewa Invitational hosted by Central Michigan. The Phoenix will start the tournament with two games on Friday, first taking on SEMO at 9 a.m. CT before a 4 p.m. CT match against Eastern Kentucky. They'll close the weekend on Saturday against Central Michigan at 2:30 p.m. CT.
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