RUSTON- For the first time since joining C-USA in 2013, the Louisiana Tech volleyball team defeated North Texas on Sunday afternoon. 
 
In a thrilling five-set match, LA Tech took down North Texas in a back-and-forth 3-2 (25-20, 15-25, 25-23, 27-29, 15-10) match. The Lady Techsters started the first set with a 4-0 scoring run off of errors from UNT. The Mean Green came back to deliver a 4-0 run of their own to things out at 4-4. Midway through, LA Tech produced back-to-back kills from Andrea Spasojevic, Ashley Jones, and Imana Ellis to give them a four-point advantage over UNT. The Lady Techsters were able to hold onto their lead through the end to finish the set 25-20. Chard'e Vanzandt and Imana Ellis totaled three kills and a dig a piece in the first set. 
 
The Mean Green began the second set with an early three-point lead. The Lady Techsters fought back and produced three kills in the next six LA Tech points. UNT took off and collected a 9-0 scoring run to give them a 10-point advantage that the Lady Techsters were not able to come back from. Vanzandt and Ellis both added two more kills in the set. 
 
The Lady Techsters were able to take an early jump in the third with a 4-0 scoring run from a kill by Carla Esquer and three UNT errors to give them the lead they maintained throughout the remainder of the set. With a four-point lead, UNT tried to bounce back with a 4-0 scoring run to shorten LA Tech's lead down to one. The Lady Techsters didn't settle. With an ace from Spaojevic and three Mean Green errors, the LA Tech took back control with a five-point lead. Ellis produced a kill and finalized the set at 25-20. 
 
LA Tech led by four midway through the fourth set after a 4-0 scoring run from a kill but Spasojevic and Jailen Hurley, along with two UNT errors. Up by four, the Lady Techsters gave up three errors and a kill from UNT's Aryn Johnson to tie the game 24-24. The two teams went head-to-head until the very end, but LA Tech fell short at 29-27. Vanzandt added another five kills during the set along with Esquer collecting three. 
 
The Lady Techsters were ready to fight for the match in the final set. With an error from UNT, a kill from Sydney Jackwin, and an ace by Ainsley Yanz, LA Tech lead over the Mean Green 10-6 midway through. UNT broke up the run with a kill, but the Lady Techsters returned with another kill from Jackwin and Vanzandt, along with an error from North Texas to give them a six-point lead. The Lady Techsters remain calm and finished the final set out with a kill from Spasojevic for match point. 
 
 
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Amber McCray
 
"I am so incredibly proud of this team. The growth from even Friday to today was huge in terms of being able to bounce back from a disappointing set. This was a total team effort to beat a really good UNT team and we did so by staying aggressive behind the service line and taking big swings in big moments. Our defense was clutch yet again today in making some critical stops against some of the best attackers in our league and our floor defense made a number of scrappy plays behind them to keep giving us chances to convert. I also felt our setters did a great job with their set distribution to put our attackers in ideal situations to score. Everyone was involved in this win, from our band and crowd to our sideline with their endless energy, to individual players coming in off the bench to make big-time plays in crucial moments like Ainsley Yanz did in the fifth set. This was a huge one that keeps us in the hunt so we will look to build on that and carry some momentum going back on the road next week."
 
NOTABLES
•          The Lady Techsters defeated UNT for the first time since joining C-USA in 2013. 
•          Coach Amber McCray collected her 200th career win. 
•          Kalee Cadwell and Ashley Jones both produced 20 assists. 
•          Andrea Spasojevic sets a new career-high with four blocks.
•          Chard'e Vanzandt collected double-digit kills with 14, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Techsters hit the road to Murfreesboro, Tenn. To face off with Middle Tennessee at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 28.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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