Tech Volleyball Picks Up Win; Soccer Falters
Both the Lady Techster volleyball and soccer teams were in action this weekend on the road with the Tech volleyball squad picking up its first win of the young season.
Volleyball
The Lady Techsters opened their season with three games at the Arkansas Classic in Fayetteville and picked up their first victory with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-17) decision over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday.
Tech (1-2) fell in the first two matches of the event, dropping 3-0 decisions to both the host Razorbacks (25-14, 25-17, 25-19) and Little Rock (25-13, 25-21, 25-18).
Sophomore Faith Menary led Tech in the victory over the Golden Lions with a career-high 22 kills, including the final point of the match.
“What I’m most pleased with in this win is we finally found a way to score in a number of different ways,” said head coach Amber McCray. “Faith Menary was on fire offensively and also made numerous runs behind the service line to lead us, but our first contact anchored by a core group of defensive specialists and Samantha Hicks gave us chance after chance to take confident swings in system.
“We also won a number of scrappy pursuit plays in crucial moments that were huge momentum builders for us against a fiery UAPB team who plays extremely hard. It feels great to end the weekend on a win, and we will look to carry that boost into our home opener this Wednesday against Jackson State.”
Menary earned a spot on the all-tournament team for her performance this weekend, totaling 34 kills and a .316 hitting percentage.
Hicks and Morgan Smith led Tech with five kills each in the loss to Little Rock while Tech totaled 10 blocks in the match with Carly Doros and Imana Ellis each registering five block assists.
Ellis (6) and Hicks (5) led Tech in kills against the Razorbacks, while Mallory Meers set a career-high with 24 assists.
Tech hosts Jackson State Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center. Admission is free.
Soccer
The Lady Techsters (2-2) managed just five shots on goal in dropping a 2-0 decision to McNeese State Friday evening at Cowgirl Field in Lake Charles.
The two teams played to a scoreless tie in the opening 45 minutes before McNeese State (2-1) scored two goals within a six-minute stretch to open the second half of play.
McNeese took a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute on a goal by Anna Watson and then added a second goal in the 65th minute on a goal by Abbi Morrell.
Anna Loftus recorded a pair of shots on goal for Tech while Valeria Rios, Lauren Egbuloniu and Greta Streich each added one.
“We competed hard, playing the way we wanted to play,” said Tech Interim Head Coach Steve Voltz. “At the end of the day, we lost to two goals that started 40 yards out. We did not get broken down defensively.
“Our players have been doing a really good job of keeping things in front of them. It was just two long, direct balls creating something out of nothing. I liked the way we moved forward and attacked. There is no quit in this group. We just need some of those bounces to fall our way.”
Tech returns to action Wednesday when the Lady Techsters travel to Natchitoches to face Northwestern State at 7 p.m.
