EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Louisiana Tech volleyball team saw a career-high 31 kills from junior Kaitlyn Adams en route to a 3-2 (25-17, 19-25, 25-14, 18-25, 15-12) triumph over Oral Roberts, as the Lady Techsters split a pair of matches on Friday afternoon at the Cougar Classic hosted by SIUE.
 
LA Tech (4-9) dropped its first matchup of the day, a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-12) decision to Northern Kentucky (6-3), but rallied nicely, and earned its first five-set victory of the season behind Adams' strong play.
 
Adams finished the Oral Roberts (3-7) contest with a career-high 31 kills, and entered the Tech record books with the second-most kills in a single match in program history (most in the rally scoring era). Prior to Adams' performance, the last Lady Techster to reach 30 kills was Shannon Phillips in 2007. Even more impressive was Adams' efficiency with which she operated, finishing the match with a .443 hitting percentage (31-4-61) on the way to the second-most kills in Conference USA this season.
 
 
Match 2 Recap
 
In the first set, Tech came out as the aggressors early on, staking a quick 4-1 lead. Oral Roberts would respond, taking an 8-5 lead, but a 6-0 Tech run, keyed by three kills from Carter Mirich gave Tech an 11-8 edge, forcing ORU into the first timeout of the match. The Golden Eagles once again countered with a 7-1 run, and took a 16-12 lead, forcing Tech into a timeout. Trailing 17-13, Tech mounted one of its best runs of the season, ending the frame with 12-consecutive points, taking a 25-17 first-set triumph.
 
Kaitlyn Adams continued her strong play, tallying seven kills in the first, while teammate Marie-Helene Verlinden contributed four service aces in a dominating display behind the line.
 
In the second set, Oral Roberts came out aggressive and never trailed en route to a 25-19 victory. The Golden Eagles hit .289 in the frame, while striking for 15 kills as the match evened up at one.
 
The Lady Techsters would take back control in the third set, opening up a 9-6 lead and forcing the Golden Eagles into the first timeout of the frame. Tech would remain in control of the set, leading the rest of the way and secured six of the final eight points for a 25-14 blowout in the third.
 
With a 2-1 lead in the match, Tech opened up a 7-4 lead after an ORU blocking error. However, the Golden Eagles responded with a flurry and took eight of the next nine points, finding themselves ahead 12-8. Tech fought back, cutting the lead to two at 16-14, but ORU ended on a 6-3 run and sent the match into a decisive fifth and final set.
 
With the Lady Techsters entering some unchartered territory in their first five-setter of the season, the team kept its composure, and quickly took five of the first seven points in the final frame. ORU had several responses, cutting the lead to two multiple times, but Tech held firm, and a bad set from the Golden Eagles gave Tech the 15-12 win, and its first five-set victory of the season.
 
In addition to Adams' career day, several other Lady Techsters boasted impressive statistical performances. Fellow junior Madeline Davis finished with 13 kills with just two errors (13-2-30) along with five digs and five total blocks. Sophomore Carter Mirich and freshman Jordyn Carswell both finished with seven kills and 23 digs. Sophomore libero Alyssa Zucco added 23 digs of her own, along with five assists, while freshman setter Abigail Hildenbrand came just shy of a double-double with 45 assists and nine digs. Sophomore Marie-Helene Verlinden was dynamic behind the service line, notching five of Tech's 10 service aces.
 
Match 1 Recap
 
In their first matchup of the day, Louisiana Tech faced a tough test in the Northern Kentucky Norse, who staked a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-12) victory over the Lady Techsters in game one of the Cougar Classic on the campus of SIUE.
 
Tech was led offensively by junior transfer Kaitlyn Adams' nine kills. In the first set, Adams recorded six of Tech's nine kills, but was not able to draw the squad to within striking distance late, as the Norse posted 16 kills in the opening frame.
 
In the second set, Tech took its first lead of the contest after a kill from Adams began the frame. However, an ensuing 8-3 run from the Norse propelled them to a lead which they would not relinquish en route to a 25-18 second-set triumph. The Lady Techsters mustered just five kills in the second set, while Northern Kentucky hit .351 with 19 kills.
 
Owning a 2-0 lead in the match, Northern Kentucky roared out of the gates in set number three, staking nine of the first 10 points en route to a 9-1 advantage. The Norse would stretch their lead to as large as 13 at 16-3, and ultimately took a 25-12 triumph in the third and final set.
 
Northern Kentucky saw three players with nine or more kills as Haley Libs (10 kills), Miranda Wucherer (nine kills), and Anna Brinkmann (nine kills) paced the Norse to 47 total kills while hitting .233.
 
Tech saw some strong play at the net, as Madeline Davis (three blocks), Marie-Helene Verlinden (two blocks), Jordyn Carswell (two blocks), Jayde Penn (two blocks) and Emily Boylan (two blocks) led the Techsters to 7.0 total team blocks.  
 
The Lady Techsters will close out the Cougar Classic against hosts SIUE tomorrow with first serve set for 11 a.m.