Sept. 17, 2010

Box Score

THIBODAUX, La. - The Louisiana Tech volleyball team struggled to find an offensive rhythm as the University of Houston ended Tech's four-game winning streak in a 3-1 (25-23, 15-25, 12-25, 19-25) decision to open play at the Nicholls Challenge Friday afternoon.

"We would go on little runs where we started out well enough to get ahead by a few points but then our passing broke down," said head coach Matt Sonnichsen. "Our passing wasn't consistent enough to get our scoring game going. If you don't pass well against any Division I opponent, you're not going to be successful."

Seniors Kara Jones and Taylor Fritz paced the Tech offense with nine kills apiece in addition to their three blocks. Libero Lori Hunsucker eclipsed the 20-dig plateau for the third time this season with 28 digs - one shy of a career-high.

Bianca Bin started off the match with back-to-back service aces to give Louisiana Tech (7-5) an early 2-0 lead. Houston would claim the next three points of the match behind a kill from Stephanie Nwachukwu. Trading points to knot the score at nine apiece, the Cougars proceeded to grasp all momentum as they went on an 8-2 scoring run to take a 17-12 lead. However, following a service error by Houston, the Lady Techsters would answer with a scoring run of their own to take a 20-17 lead, erasing a five point deficit. Outhitting Houston in the first set .136 to .104, Tech ultimately closed out the first frame with an impressive 25-23 comeback win.

With an impressive come from behind effort in the first set, the Tech offensive attack faltered in the second set as the Lady Techsters were unable to control the tempo on the offensive front. Tied at four points apiece, Houston captured eight of the next 10 points to take a 12-6 lead, capitalizing on multiple Tech attack errors and a breakdown in Tech's passing attack. Trailing by six, Tech was unable to cut into the Cougar lead as Houston tied up the match with a 25-13 win in the second set.

Coming out of the break, the Lady Techsters appeared to be on the right track as senior Taylor Fritz notched back-to-back kills and Houston committed an attack error to give Tech a 3-0 lead. Nevertheless, with a 5-3 lead in hand, the Houston offense woke up and stormed off to a 22-7 run to capture the third set, hitting an impressive .333 in the frame while holding Tech to a .033 hitting efficiency.

Needing to win the next two sets to extend their season-high four game winning streak, Louisiana Tech was never able to get into an offensive rhythm in the fourth set. With a hitting efficiency of .000 in the final set, Houston made quick work of the Lady Techsters, 25-19.

With the loss, Houston snaps Tech's four-game winning streak and improves to 3-0 all-time against the Lady Techsters.

Louisiana Tech returns to action Saturday with a pair of matches to close out the Nicholls Challenge. First up for the Lady Techsters will be a rematch with Southeastern Louisiana at 10 a.m. followed by a match against the host school Nicholls State at 4 p.m.

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.