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Tulsa
Texas Tech
Volleyball Wins Radisson Tulsa Airport Invitational
9/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 12, 2009
Final Stats |
TU vs. Gonzaga Box Score 
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TU vs. Texas Tech Box Score
TULSA, Okla. - Freshman Tyler Henderson earned Most Valuable Player honors and was joined by senior Jennifer Eichler and fellow freshman Jessica Adams on the all-tournament team, as the trio helped lead The University of Tulsa volleyball team to its third tournament title of the season at the Radisson Tulsa Airport Invitational.
The Golden Hurricane rebounded from a 3-2 ( 25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 24-26, 11-15) loss to Gonzaga Saturday afternoon to beat Texas Tech in straight sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-19) Saturday evening at the Donald W. Reynolds Center. TU improves to 8-2 on the season.
For the weekend, Henderson totaled 63 kills in three matches for a 4.85 kills-per-set average, and hit a .341 attack percentage. Eichler recorded 51 kills (3.92 k/s) and hit .373 for the weekend, adding 27 digs, three service aces and three blocks. Adams tallied 63 digs for an average of 4.85 per set.
Junior Hannah Stout also had a strong tournament for the Hurricane, tallying 34 kills (2.62 k/s) and a .351 hitting percentage with five blocks. Sophomore Rachel Vukson recorded 87 assists, and freshman setter Jordan Clampitt served up 72 assists and added 34 digs.
"We're 8-2 on the season, and went 2-1 capturing our third title of the season, which was nice," Tulsa Head Coach Ed Allen said. "We're still working through youth. We have players that are up and down because we're playing four freshmen. But I think we are growing immensely. I think this team is growing every time it takes the floor. I think they are starting to understand some things that are important to competing at a very high level. We've seen movement in the three matches that we had here. Obviously, it was a huge disappointment to lose to Gonzaga in Set Five after winning sets one and two, but that's a great learning experience for our young kids."
For the second consecutive year, Tulsa has won three tournaments to open its season.
Tulsa 3, Texas Tech 0
Tulsa defeated Texas Tech Saturday evening in straight sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-19) on the strength of solid defense and three players with double-digit kills.
Eichler led the way with 14 kills against zero errors for a .636 attack percentage, followed by Henderson's 15 kills and Stout's 11 kills and .500 hitting percentage. Adams had 16 digs and Vukson and Clampitt combined for 39 assists (23 and 16, respectively).
"I thought we played an executed as well as we've executed all season long," said Allen. "We did two things very well. Number one is we created some momentum for ourselves at the service line. Secondly, we created momentum for ourselves out of serve-receive off the pass. Our attackers did just a brilliant job of seeing the block, putting the ball away, and playing with a great deal of enthusiasm. But the defensive effort was as strong as what we've seen in two or three matches."
Tulsa stormed ahead in the first set, 7-1, but Texas Tech pulled to within four at 14-10. The Hurricane then used a 9-3 run to extend to a 23-13 lead, and cruised to a 25-19 set win. Set Two was closer throughout, and neither team put together any runs or strung together more than three points in a row. Holding a two-point advantage at 20-18, TU scored five of seven to take the set. Tulsa won comfortably again in the third set, using a 10-5 run - including six in a row with Eichler serving - to pull away and take a 16-8 lead. Once again, the Hurricane steadily dominated its way to a set and match victory.
Gonzaga 3, Tulsa 2
Tulsa lost in disappointing fashion to Gonzaga Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs needed all five sets to win (25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 24-26, 11-15), but that was after the Golden Hurricane stormed out to a 2-0 lead going into intermission.
The Hurricane took a quick two sets to zero lead and looked well on its way to winning its second straight match. However, coming out of the intermission, Gonzaga won sets three and four to force the deciding frame. Like the previous two sets, the fifth was as close as it could be, but when the score was tied 8-8, the Zags scored seven of 10 points to win the set and match.
The Golden Hurricane returns to the court next weekend in the UT-Arlington Invitational, and plays Friday 6:30 p.m. at TCU, and Saturday vs. Arkansas State at 10:30 p.m. and against Texas Southern at 5 p.m. at Texas-Arlington.
For all Tulsa volleyball news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane. Become a fan of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane page on Facebook - search "Tulsa Golden Hurricane."
Radisson Tulsa Airport Invitational All-Tournament Team
Tyler Henderson, Tulsa - MVP
Jennifer Eichler, Tulsa
Jessica Adams, Tulsa
Ashley Bailey, Stephen F. Austin
M.C. Bottles, Stephen F. Austin
Karlyn Meyers, Texas Tech
