HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Despite a strong second-set push that saw Louisiana Tech rally late to force extras, the Bulldogs could not overcome a series of early miscues in a 3-0 (25-19, 27-25, 25-12) loss to Sam Houston on Saturday afternoon inside Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
 
LA Tech (8-20, 1-13 CUSA) struggled to find rhythm in the opening set, committing 13 total errors – including eight from the service line.  After a timeout at 22-16, the Bulldogs scored three straight points to close the gap, but Sam Houston (10-17, 2-12 CUSA) responded with the final three to close out the frame, 25-19.
 
The Bulldogs showed resilience in the second, battling back from a 23-19 deficit to even things up at 23-23 behind a pair of kills from Megan Cooley and a timely block assist from Zari Gillispie and Gabrielle Hairston.  After fighting off a Bearkat match point, LA Tech briefly gained a 25-24 advantage before the Bearkats rattled off three consecutive points to escape with a 27-25 win.
 
Momentum stayed with the Bearkats in the third, as they opened with a 4-0 run and never looked back in route to a 25-12 victory to secure the sweep.
 
Jailen Hurley paced the Bulldogs with 10 kills on an efficient .714 hitting percentage, while Gillispie and Cooley each added seven kills.  Riley Steubing anchored the back row with 13 digs.

QUOTABLES
Head coach Scott Mattera

"Offensively we were pretty good in both matches -- Jailen and Zari were pretty unstoppable.  Unfortunately, we just could not seem to get a feel for their pin hitters and they ran wild on us."
 
"We made so much progress this year and had some really great moments.  We are going to pour our hearts into this last week together and continue to build a foundation for what is building here.  I  think you are going to see some great volleyball Wednesday and Thursday as we close out at home!"
 
UP NEXT
LA Tech will close out the regular season at home next week against Jacksonville State on Wednesday and Thursday (Nov. 12-13).
 
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