Sept. 26, 2010

Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - For the second time in three days the Louisiana Tech volleyball team could not find an answer against conference-foe New Mexico State as the Lady Techsters were dropped in straight sets (18-25, 19-25, 12-25) Saturday night at the Pan American Center.

Louisiana Tech (9-7, 0-2) was outhit .125 to .500 on the evening with senior Kara Jones leading the team with seven kills. Taylor Fritz and Kassia Pinto both added five apiece while Bianca Bin picked up 18 assists.

New Mexico State jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead before Tech answered with back-to-back service aces by Jennifer Goodwin to give the Techsters a one point lead. However, the lead would be short-lived as the Aggies captured 11 of the next 14 points behind kills from Kayleigh Giddens and Kelsey Brennan. Unable to come no closer than five points, the Tech defense allowed the Aggies to hit a blistering .576 during the first set en route to a 25-18 win.

The Lady Techsters were able to overcome the first set loss as they raced out to a 6-2 lead to start the second set with kills from Jones and Fritz. Keeping the set close and ultimately knotting the score at 12 points apiece, New Mexico State (8-7, 2-0) found their offensive groove and outscored the Lady Techsters 13-7 down the stretch to claim the second set.

Trailing two sets out of the break, Louisiana Tech was not able to challenge the potent Aggie attack as New Mexico State cruised to a 25-12 set win and sweep. The Aggies silenced the Tech offense by holding the Techsters to an -.056 attack efficiency while hitting .522.

Louisiana Tech will return home this week to host fifth-ranked Hawai'I at the Thomas Assembly Center Friday night.

Notes: Louisiana Tech has now lost 13-straight matches to New Mexico State... The .500 attack efficiency for New Mexico State was the highest such total for a Tech opponent this season... Tonight's loss marks the first time this season that Tech has lost back-to-back matches...True-freshman Clara Vido played for the first time since suffering an elbow injury in the third match of the season