RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech volleyball team swept Mississippi Valley State and UL-Monroe on Saturday afternoon to win the LA Tech Invitational.
The Lady Techsters' 7-3 record marks their best start to a season since 2005, when the team began the year 12-2. Tech's seven wins also eclipses their total for the entirety of 2018.
Tournament coaches named
Madeline Davis the LA Tech Invitational MVP. Both
Kaitlyn Adams and
Morgan Currie earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.
"Our seniors did an awesome job of leading us all weekend; Maddy and Kaitlyn offensively and Morgan by anchoring our first contact," said Lady Techster head coach
Amber McCray. "The fact they swept all of our tournament awards after three steady performances was no surprise and is definitely well deserved."
LA Tech 3, MVSU 0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-18)
The Lady Techsters controlled their first match of the day start to finish, winning in straight sets over Mississippi Valley State.
Tech held MVSU to a -.059 hitting percentage thanks to excellent performances throughout the back line. Currie led Tech's defensive effort with 12 digs, while
Abigail Hildenbrand contributed 10 more, and
Jordyn Carswell added 8.
In the first set, Tech allowed the Devilettes to hang around early, but the Lady Techsters pulled away late to earn a 25-17 win. Tech scored 8 of the frame's final 11 points, including two kills from
Madeline Davis.
Mia Prostran's serves proved to be the difference for the Techsters in the second set. After
Carter Mirich's six kills kept Tech in the frame, Prostran consistently forced MVSU out of system as the Techsters reeled off eight straight points to go up 20-14. From there,
Elena Takova and
Marie-Helene Verlinden picked up points for Tech as they coasted to a 25-16 win.
Mirich and
Emily Boylan led the Techsters to a 25-18 win in the match's final set. Both juniors posted four kills in the frame while Prostran and Hildenbrand dished out 12 assists.
LA Tech 3, ULM 0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-16)
Louisiana Tech closed out the LA Tech Invitational with its second sweep in as many games, defeating ULM in straight sets.
Davis led the Lady Techsters with 10 kills and a .348 hitting percentage while Currie kept point after point alive with 20 digs.
"What I am most proud of about this victory against ULM is the fact that we put together our most complete match of the year against a well-disciplined and well-coached team," said McCray. "Our Techsters did a great job of trusting their training and being keyed in on the game plan, which showed in our efficiency."
In the first set, The Lady Techsters blocked four attacks and held ULM to a .000 hitting percentage to earn a 26-24 win. Both Verlinden and
Laura Ehieze had solo blocks in the frame that helped Tech overcome 10 errors.
After their defense keyed a tight victory, the Lady Techsters' attack paved the way for a win in the second set. Tech hit .419 in the frame and got contributions from six different hitters. Ehieze did most of the damage with four kills, including two of the final three points in the set.
Like the second set, the final frame of the day was all Techsters. Hildenbrand's serving and three kills from Adams gave Tech a 5-0 lead that they refused to relinquish. Adams totaled five kills in the frame as the Techsters coasted to a 25-16 win.
Up next, Tech hits the road once again, traveling to South Alabama for their final tournament of non-conference play. The Techsters take on the hosting Jaguars, as well as Nicholls and Bethune-Cookman the weekend of September 19-20.
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