Oct. 6, 1999

BOULDER, Colo. - No. 20 Colorado handed Texas Tech a 19-17, 15-9, 15-10 volleyball loss Wednesday evening at the Coors Events Center on the Colorado campus.

The loss drops Texas Tech to 0-5 in the Big 12 and 10-7 overall while Colorado improves to 4-1 in the Big 12 and 10-4 overall.

The match marked the fifth match in Texas Tech’s last seven matches that the Red Raiders have played a nationally ranked team.

“It was a long match- all three games were long,” Texas Tech head coach Jeff Nelson said. “We were in it but we made a lot dumb mistakes. Our defense was good, our blocking was very good but we just didn’t get it done.”

Colorado took advantage in game one as the Buffs registered a hard-fought 19-17 win. The Red Raiders had three opportunities at game point to win the game at 17-16, 16-15 and 15-14 but the Buffs fended each attempt. The game was won on a controversial in-call.

Junior Colleen Smith led Texas Tech with 18 kills in 47 attempts (.234 percentage). The mark was the second-best output of her career. Freshman Ann Romjue contributed 15 kills in 44 attempts along with three service aces and a Tech-high 18 digs. Her 18 digs marks the 14th time in 17 games this season that Romjue reached double digits in digs. Senior Lori Garber added 11 kills in 27 attempts (.259 percentage) and with eight digs and five blocks.

“Ann really played well,” Nelson said. “She doing everything for us. She dug, hit and served well. Colleen also hit and blocked well. Ann, Colleen and Lori were all three were hitting .400 before the final game. Colorado’s a good team, we were happy to compete but we just didn’t it done. We’ve got to play with more intensity and we’ve got to get more consistency from our setter position.”

Tech outblocked Colorado 14-5 as Smith led the Red Raiders with six total blocks. The Red Raiders were outhit .245 (91-40-208) to .196 (62-27-179) and outdug 80-61. Colorado was led by five players in double-digit kills. Sonja Nielson led the Buffs with 21 kills and 19 digs, Kristin Engelking finished with 17 kills in 31 attempts, Elizabeth Gower contributed 14 kills in 30 attempts (.333 percentage) and a match-high 20 digs, Shana Bowen added 13 kills and Meghan Barkman tallied 10 kills and 11 digs. Setter Kelly Campbell finished with 75 assists and 12 digs.

Texas Tech is next in action on Saturday evening when it hosts Iowa State (0-5 Big 12, 2-10) at 7:30 p.m. at Lubbock’s Coronado High School. The Cyclones lost to Nebraska in Ames tonight 15-0, 15-2, 15-0.