Sept. 23, 2010

Box Score

RUSTON, La. - The Louisiana Tech volleyball team was unable to overcome a 10-2 scoring run in the second set against conference-foe New Mexico State as Tech fell in straight sets (23-25, 20-25, 11-25) to open up Western Athletic Conference play inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Thursday night.

New Mexico State (7-7, 1-0) started off with back-to-back kills by Kayleigh Giddens to give the Aggies a quick 2-0 lead in the first set. However, Louisiana Tech answered scoring the next three points to take a 3-2 advantage. Both squads traded points before the Aggies built a 17-12 lead behind the offensive prowess of Giddens. Trailing by five points, the Lady Techsters stormed back with an 8-0 scoring run led by kills from Taylor Fritz and Kassia Pinto. Following an Aggie timeout, New Mexico State responded to the Tech rally closing out the set on an 8-3 run behind two more kills from Giddens.

Giddens totaled 11 kills in the first set and 24 on the night.

Looking to even the score in the second frame, Louisiana Tech (9-6, 0-1) raced out to a 3-1 lead before the Aggies fought back by taking seven of the next eight points in the set. However, the Lady Techsters were able to regain momentum by taking a 17-15 lead, forcing a timeout. Out of the stoppage, Tech scored the first point off of a ball handling error by the Aggies to take a three point lead. With a lead in hand and momentum seemingly in the Techsters favor, the offensive attack faltered as the Tech passing game broke allowing New Mexico State to go on a 10-2 run to close out the set, 25-20.

Louisiana Tech was never able to recover in the third set as New Mexico State overpowered the Tech defense outhitting the Lady Techsters .483 to -.115 in the frame en route to a 25-11 win.

With the loss, Louisiana Tech falls to 1-12 all-time against the Aggies.

The Lady Techsters return to action Saturday night as they travel to Las Cruces, New Mexico for a rematch with the Aggies at 8 p.m. inside the Pan American Center.