RUSTON – Louisiana Tech battled through four tightly contested sets but came up just short in a 3-1 (28-26, 22-25, 26-24, 25-23) loss to Houston Christian on Saturday to close out the Bulldog Bash inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
 
All four frames were decided by three points or fewer.  LA Tech (5-5) dropped a marathon opening set 28-26 before bouncing back with a strong finish in the second to even the match.  HCU (5-5) edged out another extra-point decision in the third and held off a Bulldog rally in the fourth to seal the match.
 
The opening frame set the tone for the match as both sides traded blows deep into extra points.  LA Tech had two set point chances, but HCU strung together the final three points to steal momentum with a 28-26 win.
 
The Bulldogs responded with energy, jumping out to an early lead behind strong serving from Steubing and a defense that collected five blocks.  LA Tech would hold off a late 7-0 Huskie surge to secure the 25-22 victory and even the match.
 
Another back-and-forth battle saw neither team lead by more than three points. Luevanos and Hurley came up big in the middle stages, but HCU capitalized on a late swing to escape with a 26-24 decision.
 
Down 14-7 in the fourth, the Bulldogs fought back to ultimately take a 23-21 lead following a kill by Giulia Bonifacio.  However, HCU closed the set out with four straight points to seal it.
 
Bonifacio was the offensive anchor for the Bulldogs, tallying a team-high 15 kills (seven of which came in the fourth set).  Jailen Hurley reached double-digit kills for a third straight game, recording 11.  Sydnee Carter provided 21 assists while Riley Steubing (24 digs) and Charlize Williams (6.0 blocks) held down the defense.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Scott Mattera
 
On the match…
"Everybody is torn as to how to feel.  You must love the fight.  I don't think we backed down.  We had a moment where it looked like we might have in that fourth, down by about six points, but we fought all the way back.  The first thing I told this team all the way back in December when I first met them, I made them a promise that they were never going to get yelled at for a physical mistake.  And I actually used the example of if it is match point and you go up and take a rip and miss it by an inch and we lose, I am going to be the first person to high five you and say do it again.  And that is exactly what happened.  We went aggressive and fought, but we cannot be satisfied with losing."
 
On climbing back into the fourth set…
"They are buying into the message.  In the moment, you need those remembers.  You could see it in their eyes, they were not going to take no for an answer.  Super proud of the fight.  The hardest thing about volleyball is the focus that it takes on every single touch.  That level of mental toughness is taxing.  It takes a ton of effort and a ton of confidence.  We are getting there.  Tech volleyball is coming.  That is how I feel after this weekend."
 
On Giulia Bonifacio's performance…
"I told Giulia in the preseason that it is beautiful to watch you play.  She plays a beautiful brand of volleyball.  You see her just float in the air.  You saw her athleticism come through today.  She was dominant, especially in those last two games.  That is what she is capable of when she is healthy.  If we get that out of her all the time, we are going to be tough."
 
NOTABLES

• With the loss, LA Tech now trails in the all-time series with Houston Christian, 6-2.
• LA Tech totaled 10.0 blocks against the Huskies.  It was the third match this season (second straight) that the Bulldogs tallied double-digit blocks as a team.
• Giulia Bonifacio collected a team-high 15 kills, her most ever as a Bulldog.  It was also the most by a Bulldog in a match this season.
• Jailen Hurley tallied her fifth match this season with double-digit kills, posting 11.  She recorded at least 10 kills in all three matches of the Bulldog Bash.
• Sydnee Carter registered a team-high 21 assists, giving her 20+ for the third time this season.
• Riley Steubing notched a game-high 24 digs.  It marked the fifth time this season (third straight) that the junior has recorded 20+ digs.
• Charlize Williams collected a game-high 6.0 blocks.  The graduate has recorded at least 6.0 blocks in four matches this season, including the last three.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will play in its final tournament of the non-conference slate next weekend when the Bulldogs participate in the Texan Classic, hosted by Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas.  The 'Dogs will take on North Texas, host Tarleton State, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
 
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