Fayetteville, Ark. – A career-high 22 kills by sophomore Faith Menary led the Louisiana Tech volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-17) sweep over Arkansas Pine-Bluff Saturday night at the Arkansas Classic.
 
The Lady Techsters move to 1-2 on the season with the win while Arkansas Pine-Bluff falls to 0-3.
 
LA Tech jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in the first set, before Arkansas Pine-Bluff answered with a pair of kills and a block cutting into Tech's lead. A trio of kills by Menary and a pair of kills by sophomore Samantha Hicks extended the Lady Techsters lead to 15-10. The Golden Lions would get as close as 18-15 before LA Tech closed the set out on a 5-1 run.
 
The second set was similar to the first with the Lady Techsters jumping out to a quick 9-3 lead, thanks to blocks by sophomore Carly Doros, Hicks and sophomore Morgan Smith. Arkansas Pine-Bluff quickly answered with a 5-1 run to pull within two at 10-8. A solo block and kill by Menary started an 8-1 run pushing the Lady Techsters lead to 18-9. The Golden Lions would battle back pulling within three at 24-21 but an Imana Ellis kill ended things.
 
Five Techsters recorded kills as LA Tech surged out to a 7-1 lead to start the third set. Arkansas Pine-Bluff would close the deficit to two at 10-8 but another 5-1 spark by the Lady Techsters extended the lead back out to six at 15-9. The Golden Lions made a late charge with a 5-1 run, pulling within 19-16, but four more kills by Menary closed out the set.
 
Menary's 34 kills on .316 hitting percent over the three-match weekend earned her a spot on the Arkansas Classic All-Tournament Team.
 
 
NOTABLES

• LA Tech moves to a perfect 10-0 all-time against Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
• All 10 victories over the Golden Lions have come via a sweep.
• The Lady Techsters finished the night hitting .300 with 43 kills.
• LA Tech recorded a season-high seven ace serves.
• Menary set a new career-high with a match-high 22 kills, hitting .487.
• Doros capped off the night hitting .500 with five kills.
• Setter Mallory Meers assisted in the win with 28 assists and nine digs.
• Imana Ellis led the Lady Techsters with four huge blocks.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Amber McCray
" What I'm most pleased with in this win is we finally found a way to score in a number of different ways. Faith Menary was on fire offensively and also made numerous runs behind the service line to lead us, but our first contact anchored by a core group of DS's and Samantha Hicks gave us chance after chance to take confident swings in system. We also won a number of scrappy pursuit plays in crucial moments that were huge momentum builders for us against a fiery UAPB team who plays extremely hard. It feels great to end the weekend on a win and we will look to carry that boost into our home opener this Wednesday against Jackson State."
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Techsters will return to action on Wednesday, September 1 inside the Thomas Assembly Center for their home opening match against Jackson State. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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