RUSTON – Louisiana Tech grabbed momentum with a third-set win but was unable to complete the comeback, falling 3–1 (25-16, 25-23, 20-25, 25-17) to Delaware on Saturday inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
Delaware's (5-8, 2-2 CUSA) balance carried them through the first half of the match, but even as LA Tech (7-11, 0-4 CUSA) found answers in the third set, the Bulldogs were unable to complete the turnaround.
 
The Blue Hens came out fast, using a 5-0 run midway through to build separation.  LA Tech tried to chip away, but Delaware kept siding out at a high rate to take the opener, 25-16.
 
The second frame was a back-and-forth battle that featured 10 ties. LA Tech grabbed momentum at 20-18, but Delaware closed on a 7–3 push behind Asia Murray to edge out the set, 25-23, for a 2–0 lead.
 
LA Tech responded with its best stretch of the day in the third game.  Fueled by kills from Jailen Hurley and blocks from Anaya Hairston, the Bulldogs raced out to an 18-11 advantage.  Delaware tried to rally, but Giulia Bonifacio delivered late kills to seal a 25-20 win and keep Tech alive.
 
The Blue Hens quickly regrouped as Anna Logan Gillens powered the offense and Delaware's block stiffened as they finished the match with a 25-17 victory.
 
The Bulldogs were led offensively by Hurley who had 11 kills as the team hit .174 for the match.  Bonifacio added nine kills while the Hairston sisters each tallied eight.  Setters Grace Krohn (21 assists) and Sydnee Carter (19 assists) guided the attack, and libero Riley Steubing anchored the back row with 12 digs.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Scott Mattera
 
"There were flashes of brilliance.  We would do some good things offensively and then we would go away from it.  Just too many errors.  We scored well, but our efficiency was not very good.  We struggled to shut them down until three and four.  One and two, Delaware was on fire.  We adjusted and did a good job of bringing that hitting percentage down, but did not take full advantage of it.  We did in game three, but in four our offense was not there to match them.  There is a reason they were picked top three in the conference.  They have a lot of athletes over there.  It was a chance for us to keep learning and keep getting better.  That is what this season is all about.  There are a lot of times where it looks much improved, but we want some results to go along with that."
 
UP NEXT
LA Tech continues its homestand next weekend when the Bulldogs play host to WKU on Friday and Saturday in the TAC.  Both matchups will be televised on ESPN+.
 
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