RUSTON – Louisiana Tech and Delaware battled through five sets in a back-and-forth match Friday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center, with the Blue Hens pulling out a 3-2 victory (20-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-13, 15-10).
 
LA Tech (7-10, 0-3 CUSA) was dialed in through the first three sets with a strong serve-and-pass game, but Delaware's (4-8, 1-2 CUSA) ability to string together runs in the fourth and fifth sets proved decisive, as the Blue Hens hit .423 in set four and used timely serving to seize momentum late in the match.

The Bulldogs started out hot in the TAC, jumping out to a 10-3 lead behind two service aces from Grace Krohn and steady kills from Jailen Hurley and Gabrielle Hairston.  Delaware pulled within 23-19 after a late push, but a kill by Giulia Bonifacio closed out the opening set for the Bulldogs 25-20.

LA Tech again led early in the second set, racing ahead 12-8 after a Hurley kill to force a timeout by the Blue Hens.  Delaware responded with a steady stretch from Asia Murray, erasing the deficit.  The Blue Hens took a 22-21 edge and won three of the last four points, capped by an ace from Aubrey Lyssy to even the match.

The home team regained the match lead after claiming the third set.  The Bulldogs used a 6-0 run, fueled by serving from Krohn and multiple Delaware miscues, to push ahead 23-18.  A Hurley kill sealed a 25-21 win for LA Tech.

Delaware flipped the script in set four, overwhelming LA Tech with a .423 attack percentage.  Norris and Gillens combined for 10 kills in the set as the Blue Hens sprinted out to a 17-6 advantage and never looked back, forcing a deciding fifth.
 
The race to 15 was tight.  With LA Tech trailing 9-10, the Blue Hens won five of the last six points, capitalizing on a trio of errors by the Bulldogs.  Kennedi Inman added a late ace, and Murray's final swing secured the 15-10 win and the match for Delaware.

Three Bulldogs reached double-figure kills, paced by Hurley's season-high 15.  G. Hairston and Bonifacio each added 10 kills to balance the attack. Setters Krohn (21 assists) and Sydnee Carter (20 assists) steered the offense, while libero Riley Steubing anchored the back row with a team-high 18 digs.  Charlize Williams also chipped in six kills on .545 hitting at the net.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Scott Mattera
 
"When you look at it, there is no explanation other than we ran out of gas.  I do not know if that was physical or mental focus, maybe some of each.  It was really hard to see that because we were playing really clean volleyball against a very good team.  Our stuff works when we do it well.  The serve-and-pass game were good through sets one, two, and three, but then four and five it had a huge lapse.  That is enough to lose a match.  We just did not execute in game five at all.  Both teams hit negative.  It was an ugly game five.  We need to embrace that moment.  This is part of building a program."
 
NOTABLES

• With the loss, LA Tech now trails in the all-time series with Delaware, 0-1.  This was the first of two first-time meetings for the Bulldogs this season (will also play Missouri State for the first time later).
• The Bulldogs played their fifth match that has gone five sets (most since 2018).  LA Tech is 2-3 in five setters.
• Three Bulldogs tallied double-digit kills in a match for the first time this season.
• Jailen Hurley had a season-high 15 kills in the match, which also tied for the game high as well as the most by a Bulldog this season.  It was the most kills by the senior since having 17 against Presbyterian (Sept. 1, 2023).
• Gabrielle Hairston posted a season-high 12 kills (fourth match in double figures this season) while Giulia Bonifacio recorded 10 (third time with double-digit kills this season).
• Two Bulldogs – Grace Krohn (21) and Sydnee Carter (20) – had 20+ assists in the match.  It marked the first time since Sept. 1, 2023 versus Presbyterian that two Bulldog setters had 20+ assists.
• Grace Krohn also registered a game-high four service aces, setting a new career high.
• Riley Steubing reached double-digit digs (18) for the 11th time this season.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will face off against Delaware again tomorrow inside the Thomas Assembly Center.  First serve is set for 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
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