RUSTON — Louisiana Tech is set to welcome Kennesaw State to the Thomas Assembly Center on November 1 and 2. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+, with Friday's match beginning at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday's first serve set for 2 p.m. CT.
 
DATE/TIME: Friday-Saturday, November 1-2, 6 p.m. CT | 2 p.m. CT
LOCATION: Ruston, La. (Thomas Assembly Center)
STATS: LATechSports.com/Stats
SERIES RECORD: First meeting
LAST MEETING: First meeting
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (6-19, 0-12)
LA Tech was able to pick up a set in both matches against Middle Tennessee but couldn't do any more damage and dropped both 3-1.
 
The Bulldogs had their fifth match with 10 or more blocks this season in the second match against MTSU. Charlize Williams continues to lead the defense with 98 blocks on the season for a 1.20 per set average, both ranking in the top five in Conference USA, and her total blocks rank 50th in the nation. With two blocks, Williams will become the first Tech player with over 100 in a season since Madeline Davis in 2018 and just the second since 2009. Her current average would put her second on the season records list.
 
Another player to step up on defense has been Riley Steubing. The sophomore has made a seamless transition from McKenzie Johnson, one of the best to do it in LA Tech history. Steubing averages 4.11 digs per set, which would rank 10th all-time in a single season.
 
Jailen Hurley had a phenomenal match on Friday against the Blue Raiders. She had nine kills on a .364 hitting clip. She has five matches with 10+ kills and 10 matches hitting over .300, including a perfect seven-for-seven against Western Kentucky. She is second on the team with 164 kills this season.
 
ABOUT KENNESAW STATE (10-13, 7-5)
Kennesaw State split the past two weekends against Sam Houston and FIU, dropping the first match in the series 3-1 before winning the last by the same score.
 
Manu Johnsen has led the Owls in their first year in the league. The junior ranks third in the league in hitting percentage (.347) and kills per set (3.63) while ranking fourth in points (368.5), points per set (4.19), total attacks (833), and total kills (319). She has double-digit kills in all but three matches this season, with eight matches of 15 or more.
 
The middle is held down by Olivia Burrage who is hitting .347 on the season and has 77 blocks. Burrage has seven matches with 10 or more kills, including the last five, and seven matches with five or more blocks.
 
The Owls have been one of the best serving teams in the country. They have 146 aces on the season, with four players over 20.
 
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Amber McCray
 
"We know this last stretch of conference is critical to extending our season, and we are thankful to be at home for the next 4 matches. KSU has a few strong attackers who have led them all year, and it's crucial we contain them early & limit their point scoring ability. Winning the serve & pass battle will once again likely dictate this series. We will also continue to work to put together a complete match where everyone does their job with discipline, effort, and intention. This is when we compete at our best and that's what we will strive to do this weekend as we have another opportunity to do so."
 
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