RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech women's volleyball team started off strong in its home opener with a 25-22 first set victory, but ultimately lost, 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 19-25, 19-25) to Southern Miss on Sunday inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
 
"We had opportunities all match, but we must be better about stopping their runs," head coach Amber McCray said. "We did a decent job containing their key players early on, but then others stepped up for them and we struggled to defend them all. The best part about this schedule is we have a chance to regroup, make adjustments and bounce back tomorrow."
 
The first set was a close one as neither team led by more than two points until the Golden Eagles took a 11-8 lead. The Lady Techsters tied it back up at 11-11 after a pair of Southern Miss errors and a kill from freshman outside hitter Samantha Hicks. The teams continued to go back-and-forth until a 5-0 Tech run put the Lady Techsters up, 21-16. A kill from redshirt freshman setter Mallory Meers put the Lady Techsters at set point, 24-21. Southern Miss was able to put one more point on the board before another Hicks kill secured the 25-22 set one victory for Louisiana Tech.
 
Southern Miss opened the second set with a 5-0 run, but the Lady Techsters were able to tie it up at 9-9 after a pair of Southern Miss errors. The Golden Eagles led for the remainder of the set, taking a 24-18 lead. LA Tech rallied three straight points following kills from junior outside hitter Jordyn Carswell and senior right-side hitter Elena Takova and a block from senior middle blocker Marie-Helene Verlinden and Takova, but USM would end the match with a 25-21 win.
 
The Lady Techsters scored the first point of the third set after a Takova kill, but that would be Tech's only lead during the set. Louisiana Tech was able to bring the score within one three times, but Southern Miss consistently held onto its lead. After the Golden Eagles took an 18-13 edge, LA Tech battled back with a kill from senior outside hitter Carter Mirich and a couple of USM errors to bring Tech within two, 18-16. Louisiana Tech brought it within two twice more, at 19-17 and 20-18, but Southern Miss ended the set with a 5-1 run to secure the 25-19 set three win.
 
Tech opened the fourth set with a 2-0 lead, however, a 7-1 Southern Miss run gave the Golden Eagles the 7-3 advantage. Though LA Tech was able to cut the lead to one on five different occasions, Louisiana Tech was not able to tie or take the lead. A kill from junior setter Abigail Hildenbrand cut USM's lead to 19-17, but Southern Miss closed out the set with a 6-2 run for the 25-19 set win to secure the 3-1 victory.
 
LA Tech was led by Takova with eight kills, Hildenbrand with 29 assists, senior libero Alyssa Zucco with 22 digs and Verlinden with three blocks.
 
Southern Miss was led by junior outside hitter Duquesne Moratzka with 16 kills, senior setter Piper Matsumoto with 49 assists and senior libero Madison Lawler with 20 digs. Moratzka and junior right-side hitter Nyanuer Bidit each registered a match-high four blocks.
 
Overall, Louisiana Tech hit .174 (51-23-161) on the match, while Southern Miss hit .238 (63-22-172).
 
Tech honored its six seniors following the match in Verlinden, Mirich, Takova, Zucco, right-side hitter Molly Watkins and middle blocker Emily Boylan.
 
"In a year where nothing is promised and no matches are guaranteed, we are thankful to have the opportunity to honor a senior class that has meant so much to this program," McCray said.
 
LA Tech and Southern Miss will meet again Monday at 1 p.m. (CT) inside the Thomas Assembly Center.  
 
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