Correa Tallies Six Aces in Exhibition Game

LUBBOCK, Texas – Free sophomore Maddie Correa posted a strong service game after collecting six aces and senior outside hitter Kenna Sauer led the team with 13 kills as the Red Raiders picked up a 3-0 victory over the North Texas Mean Green in an exhibition game at the United Supermarkets Arena on Thursday afternoon.

Behind 16 total blocks from the Red Raiders, led by fifth-year senior Karrington Jones with six stops at the net, Tech was able to hold North Texas to a .267 hitting clip. Sauer, who almost collected a double-double in the match, added seven digs to her 13 kills, while junior Reese Rhodes led the team in assists with 34.

In addition, Reagan Cooper tallied double-digit kills with 10 behind 17 attacks (.529). Brooke Kanas also made her presence known at the net after totaling seven kills on nine attacks and an impressive .778 hitting clip. Senior Alex Torres had 10 digs for the Red Raiders and Correa added five more of her own.

Taking the first set by a score of 25-18, the Red Raiders would start the match down 1-5 before going on a 9-0 run sparked by an ace from Correa to take the lead, 10-5. Going back-and-forth in the set, Sauer put down an ace to give Tech a 16-9 advantage. Up 20-13, the Red Raiders scored the remaining five points on a slam from Kanas, an ace from Correa and a few errors committed by the Mean Green.

Tech began the second set with a 4-0 run behind Correa’s strong serves. North Texas cut into Tech’s lead, but Cooper added three more kills to give the Red Raiders a 10-4 advantage. Up 22-20, a North Texas hitting error sparked a 3-1 Tech run as Rhodes ended the second set with a kill.

The Red Raiders and Mean Green played a tight third set, with Tech solidifying the victory with a 25-22 score. Going down 10-13 early in the set, Kanas collected a kill to give the Red and Black some life. A couple of errors by UNT, another ace from Correa and a kill from Maddie O’Brien would give Tech a 14-13 lead. More back-and-forth action ensued, but the Red Raiders would pull out the win in three sets, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22.

Tech is back in action this Saturday at 6 p.m. with the Red and Black Scrimmage located in the practice gym of the United Supermarkets Arena.