CLEMSON, S.C. – Despite a double-double from outside hitter
Andrea Spasojevic, the Louisiana Tech volleyball team fell to host Clemson by a final score of 3-0 on Saturday at the Big Orange Bash inside Jervey Gym.
Spasojevic was part of an attacking unit that produced a higher hitting percentage than Clemson (2-0) through the first two sets, but LA Tech (1-2) could not turn that into set wins.
The Lady Techsters were hanging around in the first set, down 12-16, before the Tigers strung together a four-point scoring run to help secure a 1-0 advantage (25-19).
The second set was a dogfight though with 13 ties and six lead changes. Up 19-17, Clemson won five straight points to grab hold of the set. However, LA Tech countered by winning four of the next five points to tie things up at 23-23.
After a service error from the visiting team, Spasojevic fought off set point to even it up again at 24-24, but the Tigers got back-to-back points to take a 2-0 lead.
The third set was tight midway through, but a pair of scoring runs by Clemson put it out of reach winning 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-14).
Ashley Taylor notched eight kills as LA Tech ended up recording a .157 hitting percentage. Defensively, the squad a 7-5 block advantage while
McKenzie Johnson notched a team-best 12 digs.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amber McCray
"Today was tough because we did some really good things at times against a talented Clemson team, but ultimately we could not have three of our hitters attacking below .150 and expect to beat good teams. I loved our pursuit and the fight we showed throughout the match after the first set. I have to keep reminding myself there were numerous times today we were a court of all freshmen and sophomores with one junior, or other times when there was only one returner. We are so new to each other and with that lack of familiarity comes some miscues that will definitely get better with time."
NOTABLES
- LA Tech registered more blocks than all three of its opponents in the Big Orange Block (had a 7-5 block advantage against Clemson).
- Andrea Spasojevic registered her first career double-double as a Lady Techster with a team-high 10 kills and 10 digs.
- For the third straight game, Ashley Jones eclipsed 20+ assists as the redshirt freshman tallied 22 against the Tigers.
- McKenzie Johnson extended her double-double digs streak to 24 with a team-high 12 digs.
UP NEXT
Next up for LA Tech is its home opener on Wednesday, Aug. 31 against Grambling State. First serve is set for 6 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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