NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana Tech volleyball came up short Sunday afternoon in the final match of the Green Wave Classic, falling 3-1 (25-11, 14-25, 25-12, 25-22) to Lamar inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena.
 
Despite a dominant second set from LA Tech (3-4) and a hard-fought battle in the fourth, the Bulldogs could not sustain their attack down the stretch as Lamar's (4-3) offense proved to be the difference with 49 kills.

Lamar seized control from the outset, racing out to a 12-3 lead and never looking back to take the opening set 25-11.  The Cardinals hit .320 in the frame, using balanced offense and tough serving to keep LA Tech off rhythm.
 
LA Tech flipped the momentum in convincing fashion in the second set.  The Bulldogs opened with an incredible 10-0 run sparked by kills from Zari Gillispie and Carla Esquer and never allowed Lamar back within striking distance.  The 'Dogs hit .389 in the set, with Gillispie and Esquer combining for 11 kills, while the defense held the Cardinals to just a .045 clip.

The Cardinals regrouped quickly, responding with another strong frame.  Lamar hit an eye-popping .531, tallying 17 kills with no errors.  Despite efforts from Esquer and Sydnee Carter to spark LA Tech, the Bulldogs could not slow down the Cardinal attack and fell 25-12.

The final set proved to be the most competitive, featuring 10 ties and seven lead changes.  LA Tech battled behind steady play from Carter, who tallied assists and digs to keep the offense flowing, while Riley Steubing anchored the defense with key digs.  Esquer added several timely kills to keep the Bulldogs within reach, but Lamar closed on a late run to edge out the frame 25-22 and secure the match.
 
Esquer led LA Tech with 11 kills on a .476 hitting percentage, while Gillispie contributed 10 kills and two blocks. Carter registered a double-double with 20 assists and 14 digs, and Steubing paced the back row with 16 digs.  
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Scott Mattera
"This was one of those matches in the course of building a program that we are really torn about how to feel.  What we showed in game two proves what we are capable of, but we can never be satisfied with mere glimpses.  Volleyball between two fairly even teams isn't about who plays best, it's about who plays best the longest."
 
"Super proud of Zari Gillispie and Sydnee Carter – we are putting a lot on those two freshmen, and they are handling it so well.  Zari hit almost .370 this weekend and Syd is making great choices setting."
 
"I can wait for this coming weekend to play at home – I think our Bulldog community is going to love watching this team play!"
 
NOTABLES

• With the loss, LA Tech now trails in the all-time series with Lamar, 9-22.
• The senior Carla Esquer recorded a season-high 11 kills.  It was her ninth career match with double-digit kills.
• The freshman Zari Gillispie registered a career-high 10 kills.
• The freshman Sydnee Carter tallied her first career double-double with 20 assists and a career-high 14 digs.  She now has two matches this season with 20+ assists.
• Riley Steubing posted a team-high 16 digs.  She now has double-digit digs in four of the last five matches.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will take on Jackson State, ULM, and Houston Christian when the team hosts the Bulldog Bash Sept. 11-13 inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
 
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).