Box Score Nov. 15, 2010
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RUSTON, La. - In what was a passionate and inspired effort by the Techster senior class, the Louisiana Tech volleyball team was unable to overcome Utah State as the Aggies slipped by Tech in five sets (18-25, 25-20, 25-26, 22-25, 15-9) Monday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.
"There was a lot of fire tonight and we were just having fun out there," said Taylor Fritz. "We weren't letting mistakes get us down and we just kept working towards the next point. We didn't let the little things worry us."
Seniors Kara Jones and Taylor Fritz both picked up double-digit kills while setter Bianca Bin notched her second double-double of the season as she totaled 40-plus assists for the fourth time this season.
Four Techsters recorded double-digit digs as Lori Hunsucker paced the team with 24. The senior libero and Katy, Texas native is now just one dig shy of reaching the 1,000-plus dig plateau.
As a team Tech had a season-high 13.5 blocks as Jones led the way with eight. Despite playing a match less than 24 hours after returning from their longest road trip of the season, the Techsters started the game on fire by taking the first five points of the match forcing Utah State to take an early timeout. However, the Aggies fought back and trimmed the deficit to just one point following three-straight assisted blocks from Katie Astle and Josselyn White.
Holding onto a slim lead, Tech capitalized on kills from Kassia Pinto, Clara Vido and Caitlin Germany to claim an 11-7 edge. From that point on the Tech defense took charge by limiting the Aggie to a match-low .051 hitting percentage en route to a wire-to-wire 25-18 set win.
The second set was defined by a series of scoring bursts as the frame featured three lead changes and six ties. With the score knotted at 12 points apiece, the Aggies took advantage of a Tech attack error and never looked back as they put together a 13-8 scoring run to even the match heading into the break.
Out of the break it appeared as if both squads were inclined to trade points for the second straight set. However, back-to-back kills from Liz McArthur ignited the Aggie offense as they strung together a 20-11 scoring run while hitting .294 as a team to take the set and the lead heading into the fourth set.
Down 6-4 in the fourth set the momentum shifted dramatically as Fritz picked up a kill and moved to the service line. The senior class put together perhaps their most impressive stretch of volleyball as every Techster was leaving it all out on the floor as Tech fought back with a 9-0 scoring run to take the lead.
During the scoring stretch, Gabryel Ording and Pinto totaled two blocks while Bin, Ording and Pinto added kills in addition to a service ace from Fritz.
With a five point lead at the media timeout, the Techsters allowed Utah State to climb back into the game by evening the score at 20 points. However, behind two kills from Jennifer Goodwin and Jones' 13th kill of the evening, Tech forced a decisive fifth set after claiming the fourth, 25-22.
Unfortunately the fearless comeback was not to be. In the fifth set the Techsters were outhit .045 to .318 as Utah State claimed the set, 15-9, and the match.
"It would have been so easy for everyone to just give up," said Jones. "They heart to just come out and play with fire was good, especially going to five games. We were down a few times but we just fought through it and played as a team."
The Lady Techsters return to action for their final match of the season Thursday night at 7 p.m. against the Wolf Pack from Nevada. This year's seniors - Taylor Fritz, Jennifer Goodwin, Lori Hunsucker, Kara Jones and Kassia Pinto - will all be honored prior to the match.
For complete coverage of Lady Techster volleyball, please visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com and follow sports information contact, Austin Staton, on twitter for the latest and most current news.
