MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Charlize Williams, Jailen Hurley, and Rori Gray finished with over six blocks apiece, and Gabrielle Hairston had 11 kills against Middle Tennessee. However, that was not enough as Louisiana Tech fell in four sets (25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 25-17) on Friday afternoon in Alumni Memorial Gymnasium.
 
Williams and Hurley teamed up for a block for the match's first point. Louisiana Tech (6-19, 0-12) started with a 4-2 lead before Middle Tennessee (11-13, 7-5) had four consecutive points to take the lead. Gray began to get involved and had two kills and a block during a 7-2 run to give the Bulldogs back the lead. The Blue Raiders responded with a four-point run to regain the lead, and from there, the two teams traded points back and forth. After MTSU looked like they would take the set easily, Hairston had three kills to pull Tech back to within one before the host closed the match.
 
Middle Tennessee took a 9-5 lead aided by four Tech errors. The Bulldogs quickly turned things around for an 8-2 run highlighted by two blocks and two aces. The Bulldogs responded every time the Blue Raiders would make a run. With the score tied at 22, Hairston and Carla Esquer would get their fourth kill of the set to give LA Tech the set.
 
Like the day before, the third set started as a close contest, but Middle Tennessee had seven straight points to separate themselves. Williams would add four more blocks in the third set, but that would not be enough. Tech would use a 7-3 run late to close the gap but couldn't get any closer.
 
Hairston would give the Bulldogs an early lead with two straight kills to open the fourth. The two teams would continue to trade points until Tech held an 11-8 lead. Middle Tennessee had a 9-1 run and a four-point run to take control of the set.
 
Giulia Bonifacio added eight kills and Esquer had seven for the Bulldogs. Riley Steubing added 19 digs and Grace Krohn had 17 assists.
 
Adriana Rhoda led MTSU with 13 kills, while Kiera Booth added 11.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amber McCray
 
"Today it was Gabby who brought the spark to lead us, and I felt Riley Steubing made some clutch plays defensively, as well. Once again we had chances to finish the first set and then more chances to extend a significant lead in the fourth, but we left plays out there we know we can make by not being aggressive nor disciplined in those moments. Consistency is such an integral part of the game, and unfortunately we have struggled to find it. When all of our players show up in the same match, we are going to be really tough to beat. Until then, we will keep striving to find ways to help make that happen."
 
NOTABLES

• The Bulldogs have 10 or more blocks in five matches this season.
• Charlize Williams has had a block in 21 consecutive matches.
• Williams has 13 matches with 4+ blocks, including seven with 6+.
• Tech dropped to 2-14 all-time against Middle Tennessee.

 
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech returns home to the Thomas Assembly Center to take on Kennesaw State on Friday, November 1 for Alumni Weekend. Friday's match is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and Sunday's match will have a first serve at 2 p.m. CT.
 
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