STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Louisiana Tech dropped a heartbreaking five-set match Thursday to North Texas (25-27, 19-25, 25-14, 25-15, 15-10) to open the Texan Classic at the Wisdom Volleyball Gym.
 
LA Tech (5-6) came out strong, capturing the first two sets behind efficient hitting and timely defense.  The Bulldogs took the opening frame 27-25 after fending off multiple set points, then rolled through the second with a late 9-3 surge to win 25-19.
 
Momentum turned in the third, however, as North Texas (8-2) stormed back with a dominant 25-14 win and never looked back.  The Mean Green tied the match at 2-2 after hitting .517 in the fourth before outlasting LA Tech in the decisive fifth.
 
The Bulldogs appeared poised to close things out in the final set, racing out to a 9-4 lead after kills from Giulia Bonifacio and Grace Luevanos.  But the Mean Green responded with 11 of the final 12 points, capitalizing on service pressure and net play to stun the Bulldogs, 15-10.
 
Grace Luevanos paced LA Tech with nine kills on a .321 hitting percentage (zero attack errors) while setter Grace Krohn dished out a team-high 18 assists.  Bonifacio and Jailen Hurley chipped in eight and seven kills, respectively.  Defensively, the Bulldogs tallied 11 blocks – team-high five by Bonifacio – while getting 14 digs from libero/defensive specialist Riley Steubing.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Scott Mattera
 
"This one hurts.  Huge opportunity that we earned in games one and two and again with a leading game five.  Unfortunately, we just did not make the plays we needed to make to close it out."
 
"North Texas really stepped up its blocking and defense when it needed to so credit to them.  We are going to grab dinner together, scout our next opponent, look at the things we need to do better and come back stronger tomorrow!"
 
NOTABLES

• With the loss, LA Tech now trails in the all-time series with North Texas, 13-23. 
• This marked the sixth time that the Bulldogs and Mean Green went five sets (second straight). 
• Four of LA Tech's 11 matches so far this season have gone five sets.  The Bulldogs played only one five-setter last season.  The four ties for the most since 2022.
• The Bulldog defense totaled 11 blocks, marking the fourth time this season with double-digit blocks.  They have 10+ in three straight games, a first since 2010.
• LA Tech hit .203 for the match, marking the sixth time this season with a hitting percentage of at least .200.
• Grace Luevanos led the Bulldogs in kills for a second time this season.  The outside hitter has 9+ kills in each of the last three matches.
• Grace Krohn led the Bulldogs in assists for the fifth time this season with 18.  She now has 18+ assists in four matches.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will face host Tarleton State on Friday night as part of the Texan Classic.  First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
SUPPORT LA TECH ATHLETICS
Championships require championship resources.  Fans can make a direct impact on the success of LA Tech Athletics through LTAC, Aillet Society, T-Club, and Young Alumni program as well as the CHAMP fund, a revenue-sharing initiative designed to directly support LA Tech Athletics through NIL and marketing opportunities for Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes.  Visit BuildTheLegacy.com today.
 
BARK LOUDER
Our mission is to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand.  You can do that by spending time consuming our content and by investing your talents.  By barking louder with your time and talent, you can affect progress and brand advancement in a meaningful way.  Visit LATechSports.com/BarkLouder today.  You bark.  We bark.  Louder together.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Volleyball, follow us on X (@LATechVB), Instagram (@LATechVB), and Facebook (LATechVolleyball).