Box Score Sept. 4, 2010
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Taylor Fritz recorded a team-high 11 kills and had a .346 hitting efficiency as Louisiana Tech swept past former conference foe UALR 3-0 (25-17, 24-14, 25-20) to take the morning match in the Maverick Classic. However, the Lady Techsters would fall in the second match of the afternoon against Mississippi State in straight sets (21-25, 12-25, 16-25).
With UALR and Tech knotted at three points apiece in the first set, the Techsters would capitalize on a 9-0 scoring run that was highlighted by a Kassia Pinto kill and blocks from Bianca Bin and Kara Jones to jump out to a 12-3. From that point forward, it was all Tech as the Techsters cruised to a 25-17 win in the first set.
The strong offensive attack from late in the first set carried over as Tech had a hitting efficiency of .273 in the second frame. While it was close early, Jennifer Goodwin would contribute three consecutive service aces that would ultimately give Tech a 12-4 advantage that proved to be insurmountable. Tech closed out the second set with a 25-14 win.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the third set, UALR would not surrender as the Trojans jumped out to a 12-5 lead before Fritz, Pinto and Goodwin all notched kills to trim the lead to four. Stifling the UALR attack, the Lady Techsters would reel off a 20-8 run to finish off the sweep against the Trojans.
With the win against UALR, Tech snaps a 10-game losing streak to the Trojans dating back to Nov. 1, 1996 when Tech won in five sets.
Playing back-to-back matches for the second straight day, Tech was unable to halt Mississippi State's five game winning streak to start the 2010 season. Offensively, the Tech attack struggled as the team had a hitting efficiency of -.024, the lowest total of the season.
The Lady Techsters played tough to start the first set against Mississippi State as both schools traded scoring runs with Tech grabbing a late lead 20-18 following a Kara Jones kill. However, Mississippi State went on a 7-1 scoring run as Paris Perret sealed the first set for the SEC foe, 25-21.
The Lady Techsters were overmatched in the next two sets both offensively and defensively. Tech was plagued by several attacking errors in the second set en route to a 25-12 loss and 25-16 loss in the third. Mississippi State held the Techsters to a -.167 and -.042 hitting efficiency in the final two sets.
With the loss, Tech falls to 0-8 all-time against Mississippi State.
Louisiana Tech (3-4) returns to action Tuesday night for their home opener against Jackson State at 7 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
