RUSTON, La. – On Wednesday afternoon, Louisiana Tech head volleyball coach Amber McCray announced the addition of two student-athletes to the 2019 roster – both eligible for play this season.
 
"We are thrilled to announce our first recruiting class here at Louisiana Tech," McCray remarked. "Both incoming student-athletes will be solid additions to a seasoned roster that we truly believe can make significant strides in the 2019 season."
 
Right-side hitter Elena Takova joins the program as a junior transfer from Hutchinson Community College, while freshman Laura Ehieze comes to Ruston via Houston, Texas, at Cinco Ranch High School.
 
Takova, a native of Sofia, Bulgaria, spent the 2018 season at Hutchinson where she saw action in 35 matches and averaged 2.90 kills per set. The 6'-0" junior played volleyball throughout the entirety of her high school career, and led her squad to one of the top three teams in all of Bulgaria.
 
"Elena has already competed against top competition at the JUCO level," McCray remarked. "We are so excited about her experience and success on various levels as well as the diversity she brings to our offense as a lefty opposite hitter."
 
Ehieze joins the Lady Techsters after a stellar high school career that saw her letter in both volleyball (three years) and basketball (one year) at Cinco Ranch High. The 5'-11" freshman was named second team all-district and academic all-district for the Cougars.
 
She ranked top six in her district in both hitting percentage and total blocks. Ehieze helped lead the Cougars to the regional semifinals her senior season – the only team in their district to accomplish that feat. She helped propel the program to a final ranking of third in district in 2018.
 
"Laura brings a level of athleticism to our gym that could make a major contribution to our team and instantly allows us to be more physical in the middle, both offensively and defensively," added McCray.
 
The Lady Techsters will host McNeese in an exhibition on August 24^th at 1 p.m. before opening the regular season on the road in Huntsville, Texas, taking on Oral Roberts, Sam Houston State and Prairie View A&M in the SHSU Invitational.
 
Tech will open its regular season home slate on September 13^th, welcoming Mississippi Valley State, Nicholls and ULM to the Thomas Assembly Center for the LA Tech Invitational.
 
Be sure to follow @LATechVB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the 2019 Lady Techsters on and off the court this season.