Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Austin Peay 3, LA Tech 1 (Friday – Match 1)
LA Tech 3, Presbyterian 1 (Friday – Match 2)
The Louisiana Tech volleyball team got its 2022 season underway on Friday, falling 3-1 to Austin Peay before bouncing back to defeat Presbyterian 3-1 on day one of the Big Orange Bash at Jervey Gym.
After trailing by seven in the first set of the opening match, LA Tech (1-1) put together a 6-0 scoring run to get to within one. However, Austin Peay (1-0) responded by winning seven of the last 10 points to take the set, 25-20.
The Governors managed a one-point lead again at 21-20 in the second set. However, this time it was the Lady Techsters who closed it out by claiming five of the last six points (including three kills by outside hitter Chard’e Vanzandt).
LA Tech never gained the lead in set three though as Austin Peay took a 2-1 advantage with a 25-18 win. The Lady Techsters had the upper hand in the fourth set at 13-11, but the Governors countered with a massive 10-0 run to claim the 3-1 win (25-20, 22-25, 25-18, 25-17).
The team came out on fire a few hours later against Presbyterian (0-1), producing 14 kills and seven aces (four from McKenzie Johnson) take a dominant 25-13 win in set one.
The Blue Hose jumped out to an early 6-1 lead though in the second set. The Lady Techsters cut their deficit down to one at 17-16, but PC won eight of the last nine points to even things up at 1-1.
Set three was the closest with seven ties and three lead changes. LA Tech was on track to run away with it, up 20-14 until Presbyterian won six straight points to knot things up at 20-20. The Blue Hose had a set point, but the Lady Techsters fended it out with a kill by Morgan Smith. Back-to-back attack errors gave LA Tech a 2-1 edge.
The Lady Techsters never trailed in the fourth set, building a double-digit before claiming their first victory of the season at 3-1 (25-13, 17-25, 26-24, 25-16).
“For us to bounce back just a few hours later and get the win against a scrappy Presbyterian team is a sign of growth for our team,” said McCray. “Our offense shined this match led by both of our outsides and both middles. Ashley Jones was outstanding in anchoring our offense and if we can continue to stay as balanced as we were this afternoon we will be tough to beat.”
Vanzandt anchored the team in total kills in both matches, amassing 32 for the day. Ashley Taylor (24) and Andrea Spasojevic (22) followed in the kills category. Johnson registered a team-high 26 combined digs as well as five service aces (all against Presbyterian). And Ashley Jones accumulated 92 combined assists.
Clemson 3, LA Tech 0 (Saturday)
Despite a double-double from outside hitter Andrea Spasojevic, the Louisiana Tech volleyball team fell to host Clemson by a final score of 3-0 on Saturday at the Big Orange Bash inside Jervey Gym.
“Today was tough because we did some really good things at times against a talented Clemson team, but ultimately we could not have three of our hitters attacking below .150 and expect to beat good teams,” said McCray. “I loved our pursuit and the fight we showed throughout the match after the first set.
“I have to keep reminding myself there were numerous times today we were a court of all freshmen and sophomores with one junior, or other times when there was only one returner. We are so new to each other and with that lack of familiarity comes some miscues that will definitely get better with time.”
Spasojevic was part of an attacking unit that produced a higher hitting percentage than Clemson (2-0) through the first two sets, but LA Tech (1-2) could not turn that into set wins.
The Lady Techsters were hanging around in the first set, down 12-16, before the Tigers strung together a four-point scoring run to help secure a 1-0 advantage (25-19).
The second set was a dogfight though with 13 ties and six lead changes. Up 19-17, Clemson won five straight points to grab hold of the set. However, LA Tech countered by winning four of the next five points to tie things up at 23-23.
After a service error from the visiting team, Spasojevic fought off set point to even it up again at 24-24, but the Tigers got back-to-back points to take a 2-0 lead.
The third set was tight midway through, but a pair of scoring runs by Clemson put it out of reach winning 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-14).
