MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Louisiana Tech volleyball team battled from start to finish, but its furious comeback fell one point short of forcing a fifth set in a 3-1 (11-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-23) loss to Middle Tennessee in Alumni Memorial Gym.
Madeline Davis hit .400 and finished with 13 kills to lead the Lady Techsters.
Emily Boylan and
Alyssa Zucco each posted strong defensive efforts with 9 blocks and 14 digs, respectively. As a team, Tech set a new season-high with 15 blocks.
"This loss feels different because it was the first one in a while I felt we truly fought. MTSU is an excellent serving and blocking team, which I felt we handled well largely thanks to
Alyssa Zucco doing an excellent job anchoring our first contact," said LA Tech head coach
Amber McCray. "Maddy Davis bounced back from a rough night at Marshall to lead us offensively today. We have just struggled to find consistency amongst our hitters match-to-match and that has been the difference."
The Lady Techsters opened the match with their best set of the season, hitting .321 while blocking 6 attacks and and making just 2 errors in the frame.
Carter Mirich appeared all over the box score with 4 kills, 2 blocks, 4 digs and a service ace. The junior also scored five of Tech's first six points.
Middle Tennessee bounced back in the second set, outhitting Tech .455-189 en route to a 25-17 win. Mirich and
Madeline Davis kept the Lady Techsters in the frame with eight kills between them
The Blue Raiders continued their strong play through the intermission. With the score knotted at 8, Middle Tennessee made a five-point run to force a timeout and take a commanding 13-8 lead. Though Tech continued to battle, the deficit was too much to overcome in a 25-18 defeat.
Despite trialing 2-1 in the match and then finding themselves down 24-18 in the fourth set, the Lady Techsters fought to the finish.
Marie-Helene Verlinden's serving keyed a five-point run that included two blocks and two aces. The run cut Middle Tennessee's lead to one, but the next serve fell inches beyond the back line to give the Blue Raiders the win.
Verlinden finished the match with three aces and four blocks.
Abigail Hildenbrand paired 17 assists with 10 digs.
Molly Watkins tied her career-high with six blocks.
Tech now returns to the Thomas Assembly Center for its final two home matches of the season. The Lady Techsters open the weekend against Charlotte on Friday, Nov. 8.
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