RUSTON – Louisiana Tech made a run in the third set but would eventually fall to Kennesaw State 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 29-27) Saturday afternoon in the Thomas Assembly Center.
 
Louisiana Tech (6-21, 0-14) started strong by taking an 11-8 lead and forcing Kennesaw State (12-13, 9-5) to take a timeout. The Owls took five straight out of the timeout to take the lead the rest of the way.
 
Points by Carla Esquer and Charlize Williams and a few KSU errors kept Tech close at 6-6. The Owls went to their middle blocker for four points in an 8-0 run to take the second set.
 
The Bulldogs moved past that set and instantly took a four-point lead to begin the third. That lead would grow to seven at 9-2 after an ace by Kaeden Robinson. The visitors put together a couple of small runs to pull themselves back into the set. With a score of 21-19, Tech put together three straight to gain the lead. The Bulldogs would have set point three times before the Owls came away with four of the final five points.
 
Tech finished with seven players with multiple kills, led by Rori Gray with six on a .600 hitting clip. Esquer and Grace Luevanos came in during the middle of the second set and finished with five and four, respectively. Luevanos also had a team-high 10 digs, while Kaeden Robinson and Riley Steubing added seven.
 
Olivia Burrage had 14 kills to lead Kennesaw State. Caroline Chastang had a match-high 14 digs.
 
NOTABLES

• Charlize Williams has had a block in 23 consecutive matches.
• It was the sixth time this season the Bulldogs went extra points.
• Rori Gray hit over .400 for the sixth time this season with a minimum of 10 attempts.
• Tech dropped to 0-2 all-time against Kennesaw State

 
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will host Alumni Weekend when FIU comes to Ruston for homecoming weekend. The Bulldogs will take on the Panthers on Friday at 6 p.m. for the alumni game and Sunday at 1 p.m. for senior day.
 
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