CORALVILLE, Iowa — The University of West Florida volleyball made history Friday night at Xtream Arena, defeating Texas Tech 3-1 to earn the program's first victory over a Power Four opponent.
After dropping the opening set, the Argonauts responded by winning three straight, including a dramatic third-set comeback in which they turned a 19-15 deficit into a 21-19 lead. UWF held off the Red Raiders from there to secure the historic 16-25, 25-16, 27-25, 25-23 victory.
West Florida opened the match with a Kumara Flanagain kill and a block by Talya Sampson and Delaney Hanowell, but Texas Tech worked back to a 5-5 tie. The Red Raiders then scored six straight points to lead 11-5 on kills from Kenna McKenzie, Shelby Ignash, and Katelyn Cochran, along with two Sara Bowcutt service aces. UWF later trimmed a 20-10 deficit by winning five of the next six points, including two Emily Breazeale kills, before Texas Tech closed out the set 25-16.
The Argonauts answered immediately in the second.
Madison Joyner's service turn helped West Florida race to a 5-1 lead, with Karyna Werley and Breazeale putting down kills before Texas Tech committed consecutive attack errors. The Red Raiders pulled within 9-7 on a Bowcutt kill, but UWF responded with seven unanswered points. Flanagain and Sampson each recorded two kills during the run as the Argonauts surged ahead 16-7. Lizzy Kwiatkowski later delivered a service ace and assisted an Aniston Cochran kill as the lead grew to 19-8. West Florida remained in control the rest of the way and evened the match with a 25-16 set victory.
Texas Tech built an 8-2 lead in the third behind three consecutive service aces from Tatum Johnson and eventually extended the margin to 14-6. The Argonauts refused to go away, using kills from Cochran and Breazeale and two blocks involving Werley to close within 16-14. After the Red Raiders restored their lead to 19-15, West Florida took control of the set with Maddie Mire at the service line. The Argonauts rattled off six straight points to move in front 21-19 and eventually reached set point at 24-21. Texas Tech erased the deficit and tied the set at 24-24, but Cochran answered with a kill to put UWF back in front. The Red Raiders tied it once more before a service error gave the Argonauts another opportunity, and Hanowell slammed the door with a block to complete the 27-25 comeback.
West Florida carried that momentum into the fourth set.
After Texas Tech took an early 3-1 lead, the Argonauts pulled even on consecutive attack errors and moved ahead 7-4 behind kills from Breazeale and Hanowell and a block by the pair. Sampson and Cochran later delivered back-to-back kills as UWF stretched its advantage to 15-9. Consecutive Flanagain kills pushed the lead to 22-13, but Texas Tech made one final charge. The Red Raiders used a pair of four-point runs to pull within 23-21, and after Mire's kill gave UWF match point, Texas Tech scored twice more to make it 24-23. A Red Raider service error ended the comeback attempt, setting off the celebration as West Florida completed its historic victory.
Breazeale shared the team lead with 13 kills while hitting .407 and adding two blocks. Flanagain also put down 13 kills and hit .344, while Werley delivered another all-around performance with 25 assists, nine kills, eight digs, three blocks, and a service ace. Brooks led the back row with 17 digs and added three assists.
West Florida concludes play at the Kwik Star Klassic on Saturday, Sept. 19, against Central Arkansas. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Xtream Arena. Live stats will be available on GoArgos.com.
For more information on the UWF volleyball program, visit GoArgos.com and follow the team on social media at @uwfvolleyball (Instagram) and @UWFVolleyball (X).
