Friday, August 28
Ruston, LA
6:30 p.m.
Louisiana Tech University
1-0,0-0Sun Belt
3
vs
0
Iona
0-1,0-0MAAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iona | 19 | 23 | 21 | 0 |
| Louisiana Tech | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Gabe Walker
Bulldogs Sweep Gaels in Season Opener
8/28/2026 9:24:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Louisiana Tech opened the 2026 season with the brooms on Friday night, sweeping Iona 3-0 inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech opened the 2026 season with the brooms on Friday night, sweeping Iona 3-0 inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
Louisiana Tech's offense featured a balanced attack, finishing the night with 41 kills and a .189 hitting percentage while limiting Iona to a .025 clip. All three kill leaders for the Bulldogs were freshmen, led by Taylor Woods' 10, then Kylie Rodriguez's 9 and Tyra McKinnie's 7. McKinnie led the team with a .375 hitting percentage, eclipsing all Gaels with at least five kills.
After falling behind early in the opening set, the Bulldogs used a dominant 12-0 run to turn an 12-6 hole into an 18-12 advantage. Louisiana Tech continued to build its lead and closed the set with a 25-19 victory. The Bulldogs hit .245 as a team in the opening frame with 17 kills to the Gael's 9.
The second set proved to be the closest of the night. Louisiana Tech battled back from an early deficit and found itself tied with Iona at 21-21 late in the frame. Rodriguez delivered a kill to give the Bulldogs the lead before Tech closed out the set with a pair of Iona errors and a Woods kill to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the third set, using a 10-3 stretch to take control after the teams were tied midway through the frame. Louisiana Tech held off Iona down the stretch, with Gabrielle Hairston recording the match-clinching kill to secure the sweep.
Sydnee Carter directed the Louisiana Tech offense with 20 assists and added 10 digs, notching a double-double. Riley Steubing anchored the back row with a match-high 20 digs. Megan Cooley contributed 12 digs, six kills and an ace as the Bulldogs finished with 62 digs as a team.
Louisiana Tech's defense was stifling, holing Iona to just a .025 hitting percentage while racking up six blocks. The 25 kills and .025 hitting percentage from Iona would have been bottom three marks for the opponent last season.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Scott Mattera
"To come out and beat a solid team, especially in three, was great. Everyone contributed and had moments to show what we are capable of. Brought in six freshmen and are proud of them. Really proud of how our older players have embraced them and prepared them. When things were going south, Megan Cooley reined us in. Riley Steubing is so reliable in that libero jersey. These girls have come together and trust each other so much, it is special to see how they bounce back."
NOTABLES
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).
Louisiana Tech's offense featured a balanced attack, finishing the night with 41 kills and a .189 hitting percentage while limiting Iona to a .025 clip. All three kill leaders for the Bulldogs were freshmen, led by Taylor Woods' 10, then Kylie Rodriguez's 9 and Tyra McKinnie's 7. McKinnie led the team with a .375 hitting percentage, eclipsing all Gaels with at least five kills.
After falling behind early in the opening set, the Bulldogs used a dominant 12-0 run to turn an 12-6 hole into an 18-12 advantage. Louisiana Tech continued to build its lead and closed the set with a 25-19 victory. The Bulldogs hit .245 as a team in the opening frame with 17 kills to the Gael's 9.
The second set proved to be the closest of the night. Louisiana Tech battled back from an early deficit and found itself tied with Iona at 21-21 late in the frame. Rodriguez delivered a kill to give the Bulldogs the lead before Tech closed out the set with a pair of Iona errors and a Woods kill to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the third set, using a 10-3 stretch to take control after the teams were tied midway through the frame. Louisiana Tech held off Iona down the stretch, with Gabrielle Hairston recording the match-clinching kill to secure the sweep.
Sydnee Carter directed the Louisiana Tech offense with 20 assists and added 10 digs, notching a double-double. Riley Steubing anchored the back row with a match-high 20 digs. Megan Cooley contributed 12 digs, six kills and an ace as the Bulldogs finished with 62 digs as a team.
Louisiana Tech's defense was stifling, holing Iona to just a .025 hitting percentage while racking up six blocks. The 25 kills and .025 hitting percentage from Iona would have been bottom three marks for the opponent last season.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Scott Mattera
"To come out and beat a solid team, especially in three, was great. Everyone contributed and had moments to show what we are capable of. Brought in six freshmen and are proud of them. Really proud of how our older players have embraced them and prepared them. When things were going south, Megan Cooley reined us in. Riley Steubing is so reliable in that libero jersey. These girls have come together and trust each other so much, it is special to see how they bounce back."
NOTABLES
- Carter notched the first double-double of the season, assisting 20 times and grabbing 10 digs.
- The three leaders in kills for the Bulldogs were all freshmen (Woods-10, Rodriguez-9, McKinnie-7).
- Iona's .025 hitting percentage would have been the fourth-lowest of the season last year.
- Steubing notched 20 digs, her eighth time in her career.
- McKinnie led the team with a .375 hitting percentage.
- The Bulldogs take the inaugural match against the Gaels as this was the first match between the two programs in their history.
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).
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
Iona
LATech
Kills
25
41
Errors
22
17
Attempts
120
127
Hitting %
.025
.189
Points
33.0
47.0
Assists
22
33
Aces
3
3
Blocks
5
3
Game Leaders
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Friday, August 28
Thursday, November 13
Wednesday, November 12
Saturday, October 11
