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THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 VOLUME 95 ■ ISSUE 20

NEWS

SPORTS

Factors behind increasing gasoline prices.

Tech volleyball, soccer back in action.

Railroad key to state’s economy, future.

OPINIONS

PG 2A

PG 6A

PG 4A

HOUSING GUIDE Looking for your future home?

Check out The DT’s Fall Housing Guide in this week’s special section.

SECTION B

INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU

3A 5A 4A 2A 5A 5A

PROFILE

‘Clearly, I’m a man in a dress’ CHASE SEABOLT/The Daily Toreador

TOP: Miss Chaise Lounge poses for a portrait in full drag at noon on Feb. 19, 2021 in her apartment. She has been doing drag for three years. BOTTOM: Miss Chaise Lounge applies eye makeup while preparing to get into full drag. COVID-19 was a leading factor in Chaise Lounge becoming a bearded queen.

Lubbock drag queen discusses challenges, rewards

By MALLORY ROSETTA Managing Editor

Editor’s note: Miss Chaise Lounge declined to have her legal name included in the story.

Miss Chaise Lounge, a local Lubbock drag queen, put the finishing touches of her makeup on, careful not to get any bright pink lipstick in her beard as she applied it.

Lounge sat down in an outfit she made herself – a pink, four-way stretch dress with tulle at the bottom.

After she adjusted her blonde wig and tiara and slipped the last ring on her finger, she said some of her drag influences include Dolly Parton, Elle King and Britney Spears.

“I like confidence,” she said.

“Confident women are really my go to.”

A drag queen is stereotypically defined as a man impersonating a woman’s life in the way they dress and act. However, drag is all about self-expression and creativity, best defined as a man dressing up in women’s clothing and performing as a way to exaggerate and entertain.

“It’s not who I am; clearly I’m a man in a dress,” Lounge, a firstyear law student at the Texas Tech School of Law from San Marcos, said. “We’re always joking (that) drag queens are clowns, and so you should treat us like clowns.”

When Lounge first came to Lubbock, she said she was surprised when her entertainment director told her she should enter last year’s Glamour & Fame Pride Week Drag Pageant hosted by the Tech Office of LGBTQIA Education & Engagement. She did not think Tech would be a place that would host a drag show, especially because she feels like there are not a lot of places in Lubbock people like her feel comfortable or safe going out.

It also has been hard for Lounge to identify with Tech because of the pandemic and how isolating both COVID-19 and being a law student in general have made things, she said.

Lounge described herself as a social queen and said when the pandemic hit, it was hard for her because not only could she not go out and perform, but she also had to read 100 pages a night for constitutional law alone, making it hard to get outside of her apartment and make personal connections with people.

“I like making people laugh and dancing with people and, you know, reminding them why they came out.

That’s really a drag queen’s job is to facilitate drinking, and people drink more when they’re happy and having a really good time. And so, I miss being around people,” she said.

“If I can make somebody laugh or

smile or, you know, forget that they bombed their midterm today, that’s really what I’m about.”

Despite not feeling connected, Lounge said the times she has gone out in drag and performed in Lubbock have been fun. The queens she has met have been open, supportive and happy, and it was nice for her to meet other drag queens around her same age who were not so bitter.

“You go to a place like San Antonio and some of the queens are not

receptive or welcoming to new faces, and that’s different than Lubbock,” she said. “They were very accepting and welcoming of new faces, and I love that about Lubbock, the queens have been really great.”

Lounge said the first time she got into drag was in June 2018 for Pride in San Marcos. Two of her friends helped her get a wig and do her makeup, which took about five and a half hours, and she put on the one dress she owned and “terrible”

shoes and went out.

“I was so scared and so nervous,” Lounge said. “You know, you have these horror stories in your head, you know, what if somebody throws their beer on you or, you know, wants to fight with you or something, and it’s different when you’re being yourself. It’s kind of different when you’re looking like a woman and being a drag queen.”

SEE DRAG, PG. 3

BASEBALL

Tech baseball turns corner after lackluster opening weekend

By NICO SANCHEZ Staff Writer

Texas Tech baseball has come to life following a suboptimal, 0-3 debut at the State Farm College Baseball Showcase.

The Red Raiders’ three-game dip saw them lose to a flurry of nationally top-ranked opponents, including now No. 1 Arkansas, No. 3 Mississippi State and No. 4 Ole Miss.

However, Tech baseball has turned the corner in the biggest of ways.

In a short time, the Red Raiders have rattled off five straight wins in dominant fashion. In fact, Tech won their culmination of games by an average of almost twelve runs per game during the win streak.

Their biggest win came immediately following their loss to Mississippi State, when they routed the Houston Baptist Huskies by fifteen in an 18-3, run-rule victory.

The most noticeable difference between Tech’s first series in Arlington, and their five Lubbock games since has been their pitching.

At the State Farm College Baseball Showdown, Tech pitchers gave up 29 runs in the three games played. At home against Houston Baptist and Texas Southern, the Red Raiders gave up only eight runs in five games played.

Sophomore RHPs Brandon Birdsell and Micah Dallas in particular rebounded nicely after rough outings on opening weekend.

Birdsell, against Arkansas on

opening day, walked three batters, allowed one hit and gave up one earned run in only two thirds of an inning pitched for Tech.

Regardless of his opening day blunders, Birdsell was still tabbed with the start for game one against Houston Baptist the very next week. Against the Huskies, he looked like a new man.

Birdsell in his second appearance threw 4.1 innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out two along the way, according to Tech Athletics.

It was by no means a flawless performance, but it showed the improvement necessary for Red Raider fans to feel confidence in his next start.

SEE BASEBALL, PG. 5

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Senior infielder Dylan Neuse hits the ball during the Texas Tech baseball game against Rice University on March 8, 2020, at Dan Law Field. The Red Raiders started this season winless, but are now on a five-game winning streak.

2A MARCH 4, 2021

NEWS

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

ECONOMY

Factors behind increasing gasoline prices

By BAO PHAM Staff Writer

Lubbock citizens have seen a significant increase in the price of gasoline lately, even though the pandemic is still ongoing.

This sudden rise in the price might look like it will greatly affect people’s lifestyle, but in fact, this is a normal occurrence.

Michael Noel, a Texas Tech professor in the Department of Economics, said the price of gasoline has been going up for the last three months, and this is largely determined by the price of crude oil also being raised in the global market.

Prior to that, the price of gasoline was relatively low for the same reason.

“Last year they went down to record low. The gas price here in Lubbock was like $1.40 on average. There were a few places where you could buy gas for a dollar,” Noel said. “The prices go down because of the pandemic, while there are still a lot of global supplies that caused crude oil prices to go down.”

With people beginning to go out again, the demand for fuel to run vehicles continues to rise. As a result, the demand for gasoline

also rises and thus creates a situation where the price must be raised to catch up with demands, Noel said.

This fact is not the only reason for the changes in the pricing of petroleum products. Regarding how crude oil prices fluctuate, Noel said that there are a few reasons behind the changes.

“One of the major oil suppliers is OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries,” Noel said, “and they define how much oil to sell or not to sell while trying to influence the price of crude oil. They have something to do with it.”

Regarding how the weather may be affecting oil and gas production, Noel said that it will take a month or two to transport the oil through pipes into barrels, which might not be affected by the short and rapid weather changes. This makes the weather not exactly a factor for the changes in oil and gas pricing.

The other reason lies in the fracking industry in Texas, which involves digging and extracting oil from the ground. Noel said the cost of doing this might be another factor that creates fluctuations in the price of crude oil globally.

Contrary to this claim, Marshall Watson, chair at the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Tech, said that the fracking process might not be the cause of the changes in gas pricing this time. This is because the United States has decid-

ed to import oil from other countries to compensate for the low supply domestically after months of disruptions by the pandemic.

“We can go back and become self-reliable on oil, we do not need to import,” Watson said. “However, oil com-

panies are afraid that oil prices may collapse again, plus a lot of oil companies, similar to other businesses, took a huge hit from the pandemic. Those companies are struggling right now to drill an oil well.”

The financial and eco-

nomic impact caused oil companies to find decisions for drilling oil wells harder to execute. However, Watson said that if they managed to do it, the amount of oil from these wells should be able to supply the entire United States demand for many years to come.

While being unable to find an opportunity to drill more wells, these companies simply cannot sell the oil they have preserved amidst the pandemic, since the process of extracting oil from wells is a long process that falls rapidly in production, Watson said.

“A well can produce up to 500 barrels of oil per day at the start, but it will eventually decline down to 100 barrels or less a day by the end of the year,” Watson said. “This, plus the amount of time needed to extract and transport oil into barrels, make the amount of oil available simply not enough for distribution.”

Ti m o t h y F i t z g e r a l d , a Tech professor in the Rawls College of Business, said other than the fixed price for drilling oil and the price for production, another factor involves the pricing of crude oil and its products plus the cost of maintenance. After months of low consumption, there is a need for manufacturers to keep the oil, as well as the oil manufacturing equipment, from being affected by outside conditions.

Fitzgerald said that what Lubbock is experiencing right now is natural, the gas price is only recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and this process will be gradual.

“Very low production rates contribute a lot to the price, but most of the time it doesn’t matter that much,” Fitzgerald said. “During low consumption periods, we tend to produce too much oil, and this keeps the price from recovering right away.”

The petroleum and fracking industry suffered a lot during the pandemic, like other categories of businesses. The increase in oil price, Fitzgerald said, might be a sign of their revival.

“The oil producers had a very bad year,” Fitzgerald said. “2020 was rough for the oil producers, they lost a lot of money. Getting a little bit more money at this point can really help them.”

Despite the rise in prices, the price of crude oil and gasoline is still relatively low compared to before the pandemic.

There is still too much uncertainty to tell whether this rising pattern will continue, but for the duration of the outbreak, experts said the gasoline price will not rise to an all-time high. @BaoPhamDT

@dailytoreador www.dailytoreador.com

DRAG

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Lounge’s friends dropped her off around 10 p.m., and she said there was one person in the bar who gave her the affirmation she needed and it ended up being a great night.

In 2018, Lounge went through a bad breakup, and when something like that happens, she said, she usually retreats from the world. However, getting into drag and becoming Chaise Lounge, helped her gain the confidence to do something as simple as leave the house.

“It was hard for me, as a man, to leave the house, to talk to people. I just didn’t feel like myself at all,” she said. “This sounds kind of weird, but being someone else, becoming Chaise Lounge, and kind of finding out who Chaise Lounge was really helped me, as a man, process everything that was going on in my life at the time, and helped me find my confidence again, and helped me find who I was, again … In 2018, I wanted to be anybody else but myself, and so Chaise Lounge really helped me with that.”

The name Chaise Lounge came from a YouTube video from the early 2000s in which a UK drag queen named Olympia was pretending to be furniture and mispronounced the couch’s name. Lounge said it made her laugh, and in drag she is funny, so the name stuck with her.

Today, Lounge said she has turned herself into a brand in the sense that she can market herself and make money, especially since she holds two pageant titles – Miss Quarantine Queen 2020 from Stonewall in San Marcos and Miss Glamour and F a m e 2 0 2 0 f r o m Te c h .

However, the core of drag is expressing oneself.

“Bars know when they book Chaise Lounge that they’re getting a double titleholder … So with those titles come a lot of responsibility and expectations,” she said. “It’s a job, but I’m still expressing myself every time. I choose what makeup to put on or, you know, how I want my face to look or what clothes I’m wearing.”

Some of the standards Lounge said are expected of her and other seasoned drag queens are to show up early, be ready to perform, be flexible and be able to facilitate a good time. This is important because newer drag queens need someone to guide them on what professionalism means.

However, the responsibility and dedication can become tiring. Lounge said it can be difficult to have performances stacked throughout the week, but it also can provide opportunities to market even more.

“You have to decide, you know, am I going to refuse that booking? Am I going to turn that down? Or, you know, can I get that booking? And can I turn it into 50 more followers? And can I sell some lighters as well in there, you know, so you kind of have to pick and choose why you’re doing drag,” she said. “And so, if it’s worth it to you to do four shows in a row, and get up and look at your face and how dry it is because of all the makeup, and how your rings and jewelry have turned your skin green, and you can’t get that eyeliner off, that’s kind of up to you to make that decision.”

What Lounge said she wants people to understand is that ultimately, drag is a job. Buying all the neces-

LA VIDA

sary elements to get into drag gets expensive, and although drag queens’ jobs are to help people have a good time, they also are there working.

“Some general house rules that I think everybody should know: If you can’t afford to tip your bartender, and you can’t afford to tip the drag queens, don’t go to the show,” she said. “When people go out, they want to have a really good time.

And part of that really good time is the service that the bartenders, barbacks, waitresses, drag queens (and) DJs offer to everybody. This is a service that we’re being paid for, to help you facilitate, like, a really good time. So reach into your pocket, reach into your purse, tip the drag queen.”

The best advice Lounge said she can give to anyone wanting to do drag is to get a wig, earrings, nails, one good outfit, a bra and cheap makeup.

Before going out, she said to make sure to practice doing makeup at least once or have someone help.

The first time someone goes out in drag is all about them, Lounge said, so it is important to make sure to have fun. When leaving the house, confidence is key; if one is not confident, Lounge said to fake it.

“Being able to be your own one-woman show at all times, is really fun. And it’s 100 percent freeing. I really, I think everybody should do drag one time.

You know, men, women,

and everyone in between, I think everybody should feel what we feel,” she said.

“Every time we put on all of this; it’s liberating. It’s like escaping yourself, and the most you could ever escape yourself and be somebody else, and there’s a lot of freedom in that. You can really say whatever you want, and do whatever you want, be whoever you want, and you usually can’t do that in real life.”

Ultimately, Lounge said drag queens are not here to make anyone feel confused in any way, but to have fun and be themselves in a way that may look different than the average person, which is one thing she loves most about drag.

Quoting world renowned drag queen RuPaul, Lounge said one of the bravest things someone can do is leave their house in a pair of heels and a wig.

“I agree with that a lot because what you’re doing is you’re telling the world that, ‘Who you think I am or who you see me as every single day, I can be somebody else.’ And that’s pretty scary,” she said. “You know, some people get weirded out changing their hats when they leave, some people get weirded out when they get a new haircut. For drag queens, it’s a little bit different. We leave our house knowing that we’re not presenting the same gender as what we’re born with or what we usually present with every single day.” @MRosettaDT

Page 3A Thursday, March 4, 2021

CHASE SEABOLT/The Daily Toreador

TOP: Miss Chaise Lounge’s workspace that she uses to get into drag. BOTTOM: Miss Chaise Lounge touches up her makeup and smiles at the camera.

OPINIONS

Page 4 Thursday, March 4, 2021

COLUMN

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

Railroad key to state’s economy, future T

h e r e ’s a r e a s o n why backpacking through Europe is so doable. The open borders and universal currency, for the most part, helps. But it is the bullet-train system that makes it all happen.

It’s easy to appreciate and even obsess over the European speed train system.

I am speaking about t h e T G V, t h e F r e n c h bullet-train system. I had an opportunity to study abroad in France when I was a sophomore.

Most of my weekends, if I wasn’t working on my project, were hopping on the speed trains and going to another town or even another country to spend my free time.

There is nothing more efficient than traveling by train. Granted, every major

Nalani Nuylan is a junior journalism major from Leander.

port city is hectic with the amount of people and the time crunch. But when you’re traveling 330 kph (205 mph), you really can’t complain.

Just think what that kind of speed would do to improve travel here in Texas. Fortunately, we are expanding on that idea.

Last year, approval for expanding the highspeed train system in Texas became a reality. There’s already tracks in El Paso, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas and Houston.

But Texas Central Railroad got approved to build a line

directly connecting Dallas to Houston.

By car, it takes three and a half hours to drive from one city to the other, if you make no stops. However, the train ride will be a 90-minute commute.

Of course, the approval has met some heavy opposition and rightfully s o . Te x a s h a s a p r o u d history in its rural communities and depends on local farmers to supply us with fresh produce.

But with the vast amount of people moving to the Lone Star State and the up-andcoming inventions of vertical farming, the fuss over land should not be an issue.

If we just look at the outcomes from choosing the train system alone, it’s an overall better alternative to transportation.

For one thing, people dramatically decrease their carbon footprint if they take the train. The model train Texas Central Railroad is using for the project, the Japanese Shinkansen bullet train, runs on electricity that is regenerated by the breaks. Meaning, the train uses clean, reusable energy to power itself.

This is beyond cool. If commuters took this option rather than the four-hour car drive, Texas air pollution would decrease significantly.

Also, just think of the number of jobs this project could generate, especially after the economic hit of the pandemic. According to Texas Central Railroad’s website, building the system creates 17,000 jobs in the six-year time frame.

When the train starts

operating, the company is predicting, over $10 billion will reenter the U.S. economy.

Just think what that kind of speed would do to improve travel here in Texas.

After 25 years, the system will have contributed $35 billion to the country's total economy. Let alone, potentially boosting green energy infrastructure and innovation to power the train and surrounding areas.

That is so much money.

Granted, the only way to get that kind of circulation is if people are on board with this idea.

Just imagine, Lubbock to Austin, or Lubbock to Houston. An eight-hour drive, instantly turned into a hypothetical three-hour train ride.

If Texas Central Railroad has a student discount and weekend discount service like France does for their speed-train, then the train ticket can cost $40 - $80 depending on when you book. No joke.

This is the perfect time too excited for this speedtrain. We are seeing an end to the pandemic with this new long-term economic endeavor on the horizon.

Having a speed-train system across Texas will be better for everyone. We just need to stop having tunnel vison and broaden our horizons. @NalaniNuylanDT

CARTOON

COLUMN

Netflix revolutionized entertainment CONTACT US Newsroom: 806-742-3393 Advertising: 806-742-3384 Business: 806-742-3388 Circulation: 806-742-3388 Fax: 806-742-2434 Email: dailytoreador@ttu.edu

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Chase Seabolt (806) 742-3395 editor@dailytoreador.com Managing Editor Mallory Rosetta managing@dailytoreador.com News Editor Hannah Isom news@dailytoreador.com La Vida Editor Amanda Hampton features@dailytoreador.com Sports Editor Zach Richards sports@dailytoreador.com Opinions Editor Mateo Rosiles opinions@dailytoreador.com Multimedia Editor Chase Seabolt photo@dailytoreador.com Digital Content Manager Ana Arthur online@dailytoreador.com Copy Editor Emma Sipple online@dailytoreador.com

BREAKING NEWS Email dailytoreador@ttu.edu, call (806) 742-3393 or tweet information to @DailyToreador.

When Netflix first emerged in 1997, it could be said that it was a variation of a Redbox.

Netflix was just a DVD or CD subscription, and the difference between that and Redbox was that it was mailed straight to your home.

It has changed drastically from mailing DV Ds . N e t fl i x bec am e the foundation for future streaming platforms.

There was a time in my life where my family had cable TV, and we had a satellite outside our house. Now, it is smarter and cheaper to just pay for a streaming subscription, and you basically have all the TV you want.

The biggest purchase is the internet right now because streaming has become a normality in today’s life. Think about it, the biggest TV shows people talk about today are on streaming platforms.

Netflix adapted over time, which is why it became so popular over the years. Sure, Redbox was providing movies for people, but Netflix had a wider variety.

As it should because you were subscribing to a library of movies and

shows that were hidden amongst cable TV. Netflix was changing the game on movies that were being watched. The switchover from DVDs to online content and being an application appealed to audiences.

It was the start of an era.

Over time, Netflix began to realize that they were not making their own money by simply just streaming other major corporations’ content, they had to start producing their own.

Which with Netflix today, those shows, and movies can be a hit or miss.

But when they are hits, they really hit.

Only those who have a Netflix subscription are able to see these originals (with the exception of shared passwords).

Regardless, Netflix still is aware that their show or movie is successful from the high viewing numbers they receive.

Netflix however is not the only contender

anymore. Their success partly came from the fact, they had no competition.

But times are changing.

There are six major media corporations who control up 90 percent of the media we consume.

Those corporations are AT&T, CBS, Comcast, Disney, News Corp, and Viacom.

You may not know all those names, but they know you. Those are the major corporations running different variations of media we consume.

While Netflix thought they were running alone in the streaming platform race, the big six was always there. As you may know, Disney created their own streaming platform.

However, Disney is not strictly streaming Disney content. Hulu, which w a s N e t f l i x ’s b i g g e s t competition in 2007 is now owned by Disney. This means the content has increased for the Disney Plus subscribers.

Think about how on commercials, you get these “bundles” when you subscribe to one platform (T-Mobile offering “free” Netflix) but really a large company just owns smaller companies. That

episodes on “The Political Dive” with the first being a special series the Opinions Section is doing with Student Government Association’s president, Hunter Heck, and her cabinet.

Topics that will be featured on this special series are: COVID-19, diversity, equity and inclusion within SGA, upcoming elections and many more.

My hope is that this special series will increase the transparency of the SGA and the

students they serve.

The first episode is slated to air Monday, March 8 on our Spotify account at The Daily Toreador.

The second project will be two or three special episodes on “The Political Dive”. This special project is a collaboration between the Opinions and La Vida sections within The Daily Toreador.

We are sitting down with those who are running for

Chyna Vargas is a freshman journalism major from San Antonio.

is where the big six becomes always present in our lives.

These corporations are recognizing they can stream their own content and charge for it. By taking their original content off of Netflix, cable TV etc., they profit individually when they create their own platforms.

Paramount Plus just debuted their streaming platform, and Viacom is in association with Paramount.

Again, reiterating that the big six is awakening and taking over.

Netflix became the foundation for future streaming platforms.

Netflix does not seem to be worried though about the rise of streaming.

Perhaps they are aware they are the OGs of streaming. Whatever it is, Netflix continues the path of making originals.

This is where they create new and different content that no other platform can copy. While there are Hulu originals, Disney originals and so

CORRECTIONS The DailyToreador strives for accuracy and fairness in the reporting of news.

If a report is wrong or misleading, a request for a correction or clarification may be made by calling (806) 742-3393 or emailing dailytoreador@ttu.edu.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION © Copyright 2020TexasTech University Student Media/The Daily Toreador. All DT articles, photographs and artwork are the property of The DT and Student Media and may not be reproduced or published without permission. The DailyToreador is a designated public forum. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.

on, Netflix is at the top of their game when it comes to originals.

Originals such as “Stranger Things”, “The Umbrella Academy”, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”, “Bridgerton” and the list goes on. People forget movies and shows they have seen are Netflix originals.

While some shows have flopped and their adaption from books to TV have lacked, their most popular shows and movies pick up that slack and keep people to continue to subscribe to Netflix.

The competition will be interesting to see throughout the years. I do not believe one platform will outdo another, but they will all definitely be pulling in a larger audience.

Hulu might offer more to one person than purchasing a Disney Plus subscription. It all depends on the target audience and what is being offered at the time.

Netflix should be given its credit for starting an era of entertainment streaming. There is no doubt streaming would have eventually emerged, but Netflix has always been the trendsetter when it came to entertainment streaming. @ChynaVargasDT

SPOTIFY Mateo Rosiles is a junior journalism major from Lubbock

The Opinions Section has not forgotten “The Matador Beat” and “The Political Dive”.

We have been working two weeks on two special projects.

Both will be special series or

LETTERS The Daily Toreador welcomes letters from readers. Letters must be no longer than 300 words and must include the author’s name,

signature, phone number, student ID number and a description of university affiliation. Students should include year in school, major and hometown. We reserve the right to edit letters. Anonymous letters will not be accepted for publication. All letters will be verified before they are published. Letters can be emailed to dailytoreador@ ttu.edu or brought to 180 Media and Communication. Letters should be sent in before 3 p.m. to ensure the editors have enough time to verify and edit the submission.

the Student Senate within SGA. These episodes will be a lot longer than normal, but it is a fantastic way for students to start getting to know the students who will possibly represent them next school year.

The first episode premiers on March 4.

As always, the Opinions Section is dedicated to bringing you current opinions of students around campus and being

GUEST COLUMNS The Daily Toreador accepts submissions of unsolicited guest columns. While we cannot acknowledge receipt of all columns, the authors of those selected for publication will be notified. Guest columns should be no longer than 650 words in length and on a topic of relevance to the university community. Guest columns are also edited and follow the same guidelines for letters as far as identification and submittal.

an open forum for students.

If you have an opinion about recent events, I encourage you to write to us at opinions@ dailytoreador.com. @MateoRosilesDT

The Political Dive

The Matador Beat

EDITORIALS Unsigned editorials appearing on this page represent the opinion of The DailyToreador. All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and are not necessarily representative of the editorial board, Texas Tech University, its employees, its student body or the Board of Regents. The DailyToreador is independent of the College of Media and Communication. Responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies with the student editors.

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BASEBALL

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “I kind of just got lost on Saturday. Lost what I was, you know, what I’ve been practicing, what I’ve been working on. It was a big game, big moment,” Birdsell said about his opening day performance.

“Just kind of got lost in everything and, you know, throughout this week really just focused on a couple things to improve on from last week and, you know, just what we’re gonna do from here on out, it’s keep improving every week”.

Birdsell will start game one of the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic in Houston for the Red Raiders against Texas State.

Dallas, on the other hand, made his first appearance of the season as a starter during opening weekend.

After spending all of 2020 working out of the bullpen, Dallas’ much anticipated return to the starting rotation did not go as planned.

He wound up only lasting 2.2 innings, having surrendered five runs on three hits and two walks, according to Tech Athletics.

Only two of his five runs allowed were earned.

His second start came against Texas Southern where, like Birdsell, the script was flipped. Against the Huskies, Dallas pitched 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out eight in the contest, according to Tech Athletics. Dallas attributed his ever-lasting confidence to his recent success.

“I think you’re already defeated if you go out there thinking you’re not the best picture in the world,” Dallas said in a news conference following his victory over Texas Southern.

“As a pitcher at this high of a level, you better have that confidence thinking, ‘Hey I’m the best guy in the world.’”

Dallas will not start in Houston, but head coach Tim Tadlock did not close the door on a relief appearance from the 6-foot-2-inch righty during the classic.

Confidence was a common theme for Red Raider pitchers during the week.

The hottest arm in the Red Raider rotation through eight games has been without a doubt, redshirt senior LHP Patrick Monteverde.

Monteverde has dazzled for Tech in his first two starts on the season, compiling a 1-0 win-loss record to go with his 0.00 ERA, 0.455 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts, according to Tech

Athletics. He is the only Red Raider pitcher with 5.0 innings pitched or more to still not have given up a run as of March 4.

“Honestly I feel (if I’m gonna have a good day) right when I get to the ballpark. I’m not the most t a l e n t e d p i t c h e r, b u t I think I’m most confident in myself and my abilities,” Monteverde said. “Just (anything) to give myself that feeling of confidence”.

Monteverde will start against Sam Houston in game two of the classic in Houston.

Tech’s offense has been consistently impressive all season long.

Even though they had not scored double-digit runs in a contest before they returned home, the Red Raider offense turned some heads both in Arlington and Lubbock.

Freshman middle infielders Jace Jung and Cal Conley have both been knocking the cover off the ball since the season began.

The second baseman Jung has, through eight games, batted an astonishing .500 average to go with his team leading five homers and 15 RBIs, according to Tech Athletics. This included a game against Texas Southern in which he tattooed two separate long-balls and collected 11 total bases.

C o n l e y, t h e t e a m ’s shortstop, has not been quite as dominant so far, but has been just as key a cog in Tech’s offense. He has been batting a .417 average thus far to go with his two home runs and 10 RBIs, according to Tech Athletics. Conley’s numbers could be considered even more impressive if you factor in the fact that he was not taking live at-bats with the team in the weeks leading up to the season.

Junior center fielder Dylan Neuse and freshman catcher/infielder Nate Rombach, who were both preseason selections to the Big 12’s all-conference team with Conley, also have excelled early.

The Red Raiders are averaging 10.6 runs per game, while allowing only 4.6 runs per game.

“We (just) show up every day and prepare to play today’s game,” Tadlock said on Tech’s recent win streak. “What you can do is you can control what you can control, at your preparation each day and trying to play the game the right way and whatever happens, we’ll take that, you know, as long as we’re preparing the right way”.

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FILE PHOTOS/The Daily Toreador

LEFT: Sophomore catcher/infielder Nate Rombach runs to first in the Texas Tech vs. Rice baseball game on March 7, 2020, at Dan Law Field in Rip Griffin Park. RIGHT: Sophomore pitcher Micah Dallas throws the ball at the Texas Tech vs. Houston Baptist baseball game on Feb. 14, 2020, at Dan Law Field in Rip Griffin Park.

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Tech volleyball, soccer back in action

By ZACH RICHARDS Sports Editor

After a short break, Texas Tech’s volleyball and soccer programs are back in action for a shortened spring slate of games.

As for soccer, a five-game spring slate is typical. The games usually consist of one or two Big 12 opponents mixed in with a flurry of travel games.

On the other end, however, volleyball’s spring season is making history. For the first time in NCAA history, according to Tech Athletics, teams are able to participate in the fall and spring due to the NCAA’s announcement moving the fall volleyball championships to spring of 2021.

The decision sparked optimism in both the coaches and the team at Tech.

“I believe the Big 12 made the right decision to play in the fall,” Tech volleyball head coach Tony Graystone said. “The players clearly wanted to compete and both Texas Tech and the confer-

ence did a great job of creating a safe environment.”

And forth formed a fivegame schedule for the Red Raiders. But in unusual fashion, each game will be a travel game for Tech.

They began with a split series at Houston, being swept 3-0 in the opening round, but fighting back and winning 3-2 in the series finale.

Following the Tech, Cougars’ matchup, the Red Raiders entered their longest drought in between games during their spring slate, as they will wait 13 days in between competition.

Their layoff will be followed by a trip to Tarleton State March 11, then trailed by a trip to Denton, Texas, to face North Texas March 17.

The Red Raiders will remain in the Dallas area and bus to face SMU March 1920, then travel to San Marcos, Texas, to battle Texas State March 26-27.

Tech will have one of the most complete schedules in the nation following their spring calendar, as they were one of the few teams

in the conference to play all 16 fall games, according to Tech Athletics.

Soccer Tech soccer will begin its annual spring slate Friday.

“This second half of the COVID season, year presents a unique opportunity to get our full squad back on the field together to compete and finish the year strong.” Head soccer coach Tom Stone said.”

Their lone home game so far will see the Red Raiders host the University of the Southwest. This will be the Lady Mustangs’ first game in nearly a year-and-a-half, as their 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19, and their spring opener having been rained out, according to Tech Athletics.

It has been an uphill battle, but Stone is ready to use the spring games to improve his team.

“We need to focus our training and preparation on being successful now, but maybe more so on being a much-improved team come fall.” Stone said.

Following Tech’s homeopener on Friday, a threegame road trip will ensue throughout March.

However, Dallas will lay host to two of those matches, Stone said, so Tech fans and family could come out and watch.

The Red Raiders will open against a pair of SEC opponents in Alabama and LSU on March 13 and March 20, respectively.

The Alabama matchup will be at the First Bossier Classic in Bossier City, Louisiana, according to Tech Athletics, before they travel to Dallas.

Tech’s next opponent, LSU, have history, as both teams met in the First Bossier Classic last spring.

It was a standout game for senior Kirsten Davis, who earned her first collegiate hat trick on the path to victory.

Davis and the Red Raiders will have a chance to win once again in Dallas against LSU March 20.

Just eight days later, Tech soccer will return to the Metroplex to face North

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Tech volleyball will continue its spring slate against Tarleton State March 11 on the road.

Texas March 28, In 2019, the Red Raiders defeated UNT 4-0 for the first time in four years, according to Tech Athletics. They will look to build on their last outing in late March.

To finish their spring schedule. Tech will battle a Big 12 opponent in Baylor April 14.

The last three contests have not turned in Baylor’s favor, either, with the Red Raiders sweeping the Lady Bears in 2019, and both

team’s drawing last season.

But Tech has a long way to go until April, as they will have their eyes on the season-opener against University of the Southwest.

First touch is set for 6:30 p.m. at the John Walker Soccer Complex in Lubbock.

According to Tech Athletics, general admission tickets will be capped at 50 percent (700 people). Admission is free for all home games. @ZachRichardsDT

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Women’s tennis primed for Big 12 slate

By ARIANNA FLORES Staff Writer

The Texas Tech women’s tennis team will resume their Big 12 conference schedule in hopes of reaching the Big 12 Championship tournament this season.

Tech is headed into Big 12 play 1-0 after defeating Texas Christian 6-1 on Saturday in Lubbock.

Freshman Lisa Mays defeated No. 68-ranked Marie Norris during a singles match against TCU with a two-set, 6-0, 6-1 victory.

“I feel confident with our team,” Mays said. “Honestly, I think this is a really special

team and I think that we are going to go really far in this conference.”

The Lady Raiders will continue their Big 12 conference schedule at 5 p.m.

Friday, March 12 at the M c L e o d Te n n i s C e n t e r against Kansas State.

The Wildcats have a losing, 5-12 record against the Lady Raiders and are 3-4 while in Lubbock, according to Tech Athletics. Tech holds eleven consecutive victories against Kansas State dating back to 2004 with four of those wins taking place in Lubbock.

Tech will stay at home to face Kansas at noon Sunday,

March 14. The Jayhawks have a 4-3 overall record and are 1-2 while on the road this season, according to Kansas Athletics.

They currently hold the women’s Big 12 Tennis championship title.

The last two times the pair of teams have met, in 2018 and 2019, resulted in two victories for the Jayhawks 5-2, 0-4. However, in the last ten matches, Tech is 7-3 against Kansas.

To resume the Big 12 schedule, Tech will travel to Ames to face Iowa State on Friday March 19. The pair of programs have faced each other 14 times since 1999

and the Lady Raiders hold an undefeated 14-0 record, according to Tech Athletics.

Before COVID-19, Tech defeated Iowa State 6-1 in 2019 while at the McLeod.

Morgantown is the next destination for the Lady Raiders with a match against West Virginia on Sunday, March 21. The Lady Raiders are set for the 10 a.m. match.

Tech is also undefeated against West Virginia with a perfect 7-0 record, according to Tech Athletics.

On Friday, March 26, Oklahoma State will host Tech. The Cowgirls hold a 5-5 overall record and are 5-3 while in Stillwater, ac-

cording to OkState Sports.

The Lady Raiders will stay in Oklahoma that same weekend to face Oklahoma on Sunday, March 28 for their last Big 12 match on the road. The Lady Sooners have a 5-2 overall record and are 5-1 while at home, according to Sooner Sports.

Then, Texas Christian and Tech will meet for the second time this season but this time in Fort Worth on Saturday April 10. Tech previously defeated the Horned Frogs 6-1 back in February, according to Tech Athletics.

The Lady Raiders will return home and challenge Texas at 2 p.m. on

Friday, April 16. The Lady Longhorns were ranked No. 2 in the ITA Women’s Preseason Poll, according to Big 12 Sports.

Baylor will be the final opponent for the Lady Raiders at 2 p.m. on Sunday April 18 at the McLeod Tennis Center.

In 2019, Tech defeated Baylor 5-2 while at home.

The Big 12 Championship tournament will be April 2325 in Waco.

“I am excited to play all of them [Big 12 teams],” Mays said. “Each game is just another opportunity to get out there and show what we are really doing.” @AriannaFloresDT