JONESBORO, Ark. – Allie Leiendecker was nothing short of outstanding at the Mid-Winter Invitational, earning Tournament MVP honors and leading 11^th-ranked Louisiana Tech to a 7^th place team finish.
 
The freshman lead all individuals with a 224.80 average on the weekend, besting her next closest competitor by 3 pins. Leiendecker has now made an all-tournament team six times this season. Tech has competed in seven tournaments
 
As a team, the Lady Techsters averaged better than 200 for the first time in school history. Tech had just one match in the first ten where it finished with fewer than 950. Kaitlyn Eder and Lindsay Manning joined Leiendecker in the top-30 with 15^th and 23^rd place finishes, respectively.

 
"Allie has made six out of seven all-tournament teams this year.  I don't know how many other rookies are doing that this year," said Lady Techster head coach Matt Nantais. "The field this weekend was extremely tough with all of the top teams were participating. We keep making strides and getting better at every event. We have a few things to work on to get prepared for our next event at Vanderbilt. On Wednesday we will find out where and if we made a sectional to try to win a national championship with the USBC."
 
Tech entered bracket play with a chance to finish as high as third after placing fifth in the first two days of action. The Techsters took early 2-0 and 3-1 leads over no. 3 Nebraska, but the Huskers stormed back to win the final three games and take the match 4-3.
 
The road didn't get easier after the first match. The Lady Techsters squared off with no. 2 Sam Houston State in the next bracket match, which they dropped 4-1. Tech nearly was ready to pull off a comeback of its own but dropped the final game 223-214.
 
The Lady Techsters closed the tournament with a win, however, holding off a tough Youngstown State  squad in the 7^th/8^th place game. Tech led 3-1 before the Penguins stormed back to even the match at 3. The Lady Techsters bounced back with a 247-216 victory in the decisive seventh game.
 
Tech will return to action March 6-8 at the Columbia 300 Music City Classic, which is hosted by Vanderbilt.