Texas Tech broke a 19-game skid against Oklahoma when they beat them 3-2 to open Big 12 action. It was the first time since 2005 that Texas Tech has beat OU and the first time since the 1997 & 1998 seasons that the Red Raiders have won their conference opener in back-to-back seasons.

After losing the first set, Tech kept battling. They lost the third set, but battled back and won the fourth and fifth sets.

"I love the fact that this team is such a quality team, they battled tonight," head coach Don Flora said. "That's something they earned. They didn't let somebody take it away, they took it. I loved this team before the match and I love them just a little bit more after watching them take something they wanted."

"We felt like we started putting some pressure on some people that we really wanted," Flora added. "We wanted to make them play a lot of volleyball that they didn’t want to do. So, that pressure started to eat away a little bit in set four and we were able to keep it up in set five."

It was the first time this season that the Red Raiders went the distance and had to play five sets. In the fifth set, Tech fell behind early at 1-3, but fired off five straight points to take a 6-3 lead, holding an 8-5 advantage at the switch. It would be the last time OU would lead in the match, but it didn’t come without theatrics.

It was the first night the Red Raiders instituted replay review, which provided a pivotal point for the Red Raiders when the review overturned a touch call. Coach Don Flora went two for three on challenges Wednesday night.

"Replay is a big deal," Flora said. "We welcomed the first replay ever at Texas Tech and I think it did change a couple things. In set four when they called the net on us and we got it back, that replay was important. Also, the replay in set five where we got the touch on the top."

Texas Tech hits the road for Ames, Iowa, for a bout against Iowa State Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m.

[Source: TexasTech.com]

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