RUSTON – For a second straight year Louisiana Tech and ULM went the full five sets, but this time it was the Lady Techsters coming out on top in a 3-2 victory over the Warhawks on Tuesday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
ULM (3-4), coming off a tournament sweep, held a 2-1 advantage through three sets. However, LA Tech (3-5) was able to turn things around and force a fifth set before sealing the victory (24-26, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 15-10).
The first set was back-and-forth with 11 total ties. Knotted up at 20-20, the Warhawks won three of the next four points to grab a two-point advantage. The visiting team had two set points, but the Lady Techsters were able to fight them off to set up another tie at 24-24. A bad set by LA Tech followed by a block solo gave ULM the 1-0 lead.
The second set played out much the same with ULM holding a slim 23-21 lead. This time, LA Tech reeled off four straight points to capture the second set and tie things up at 1-1.
It was close battle in the third set as well with the Lady Techsters behind one point at 21-22. They could not complete the comeback this time as ULM's Madeline Williams delivered three straight kills to give her team a 2-1 edge.
After playing from behind in crucial points, LA Tech jumped out ahead midway through the fourth set after a mini 3-0 scoring run gave them a 16-13 lead. They maintained their advantage for the rest of the set, closing it out with kills by
Andrea Spasojevic and
Ashley Taylor.
Coming down to the fifth and deciding set, it was tied at 3-3 before the Lady Techsters put together a 5-0 scoring run, capped off by back-to-back service aces from
McKenzie Johnson. ULM sliced the deficit down to two on two occasions, but LA Tech's Taylor struck for three kills on their final three points.
LA Tech finished with a .181 hitting percentage. Taylor led the way with a game-high and career-high 19 kills to go along with five blocks. Spasojevic and
Morgan Smith also reached double-digit kills with 15 and 10, respectively.
Ashley Jones finished with 51 assists and
McKenzie Johnson registered 29 digs.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amber McCray
"Coming off a tournament sweep, ULM came out playing with a ton of confidence. We knew we had to come and stick to the game plan by trying to neutralize their middles. As the game went on in sets four and five, we found ways to get stops on them and that made a huge difference. We stayed composed and confident in those big moments. We keep putting ourselves in position to be there at the end. Today was a great step in the right direction in proving to ourselves we are capable of making big plays when the game is on the line."
"
Ashley Taylor was amazing. To have 19 kills on over .400 hitting is incredible, especially for a middle blocker. She is such a firepower for us both offensively and defensively. She came up with five or more blocks. When she is on the court, we know we are going to get a lot of energy from her."
NOTABLES
- With the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series with ULM, 26-10.
- LA Tech improves to 2-0 at home this season.
- Andrea Spasojevic tallied her second double-double of the season, tying her season high with 15 kills to go along with a season-high 17 digs.
- Ashley Taylor recorded a season-high 19 kills while tying her season high with five blocks.
- Morgan Smith posted a season-high 10 kills.
- Ashley Jones reached 50+ assists for the second time this season.The setter produced 51 against ULM.
- McKenzie Johnson recorded a game-high and season-high 29 digs.
UP NEXT
LA Tech leads to Conway, Arkansas to take part in the Central Arkansas Invitational. The Lady Techsters will open up the event on Friday, Sept. 9 in a double header against Southern Illinois (1 p.m.) and ULM (4 p.m.).
SOCIAL MEDIA
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