LOCATION: United Supermarkets Arena – Lubbock, Texas

SHORT STORY: UAlbany dropped both matches on the opening day of the Red Raider Classic, falling in four sets to host Texas Tech before dropping a three-set contest to Incarnate Word. 

COACH JOSH PICKARD: "It was a tale of two matches today.  The first we played really well and pushed the home Big 12 team but came up a couple of plays short. The second we couldn't get things going to really push. Overall on the day we learned some great lessons we can use for the rest of the season."

GAME ONE

SCORE: Texas Tech 3, UAlbany 1 (25-23, 17-25, 25-21, 25-19)

RECORD: UAlbany 5-5, 0-0 AE | Texas Tech 7-3, 0-0 Big 12

KEY STATS

• Graduate opposite Kendall Harris tallied 10 kills and 7 blocks.

• Graduate outside hitter Shynelle Woroniuk added 16 kills, 7 digs, and 3 blocks.

• Redshirt-junior middle blocker Gabriella Karman totaled 3 kills and 12 blocks.

• Sophomore setter Maria Olga Siapani recorded 27 assists, 9 digs, and 2 aces.

• Redshirt-junior libero Brooke Malek collected 22 digs and 4 assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UAlbany started strong in the first set, using blocks from Tori Wilson and Gabriella Karman to build momentum. 

• Kendall Harris and Shynelle Woroniuk combined for late kills to tie it at 23-23, but Texas Tech finished with two points to win 25-23.

• The Great Danes dominated the second, hitting .233 as Harris and Wilson found their rhythm. 

• Siapani's serving run, including an ace, fueled a 25-17 UAlbany victory.

• The third set featured 10 ties, with Brooke Malek and Kasia Barletta steadying the back row. 

• Despite late kills from Woroniuk, Texas Tech closed 25-21.

• In the fourth, Karman's blocking helped UAlbany stay close, but a late Red Raider run sealed the 25-19 decision.

GAME TWO

SCORE: Incarnate Word 3, UAlbany 0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-21)

RECORD: UAlbany 5-6, 0-0 AE | Incarnate Word 4-7, 0-0 Southland

KEY STATS

• Graduate outside hitter Shynelle Woroniuk led with 13 kills, 10 digs, and 1 ace.

• Redshirt-junior middle blocker Gabriella Karman hit .417 with 6 kills and 3 blocks.

• Graduate setter Elif Yasar contributed 14 assists and 6 digs.

• Sophomore setter Maria Olga Siapani added 13 assists.

• Redshirt-junior libero Brooke Malek posted 14 digs and 1 ace.

• Sophomore defensive specialist Kasia Barletta chipped in 11 digs and 1 ace.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Incarnate Word jumped out quickly in the first set and used a long service run to take control. 

• A kill from Gabriella Karman and an ace from Shynelle Woroniuk gave UAlbany brief momentum, but the Cardinals closed it 25-13.

• The second frame stayed close early with kills from Kendall Harris and Karman keeping it tight, but a late UIW push extended the lead and secured a 25-16 win.

• UAlbany battled hard in the third, with Brooke Malek's digs and Kasia Barletta's serving sparking a run to tie it at 17-17.

• Woroniuk added timely kills, but the Cardinals held on to finish 25-21.

NEXT: UAlbany wraps up the Red Raider Classic on Saturday, Sept. 20, facing Ole Miss at 3:30 PM ET.

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