Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
VOLLEYBALL
Louisiana Tech will open its 2026 volleyball season at home this weekend as the Bulldogs host Iona, Houston Christian and Little Rock in a three-day tournament (Jambalaya Jam) at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Admission is free.
It marks the first time since 2009 that Louisiana Tech will open a season at home.
The six-match tournament begins Friday and runs through Sunday, with the Bulldogs playing once each day. Louisiana Tech will face Iona at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Houston Christian at 4 p.m. Saturday and Little Rock at 2 p.m. Sunday.
All three Louisiana Tech matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Bulldogs enter their second season under head coach Scott Mattera with a roster featuring nine returners and six freshmen.
Among the veterans is senior libero/defensive specialist Riley Steubing, who recorded 419 digs last season to become just the second Bulldog in the past decade to surpass 400 digs in a season.
Steubing and sophomore setter Sydnee Carter are the only returning Bulldogs who played in every match last season.
Carter led Louisiana Tech with 453 assists as a true freshman, the most by a Bulldog since 2022. She led the team in assists in 19 matches and recorded more than 20 assists five times.
The Bulldogs’ veteran group includes four players beginning their fourth seasons with the program — Steubing, setter Grace Krohn, middle blocker Anaya Hairston and outside hitter Megan Cooley.
Mattera also welcomes his first full freshman class with six newcomers. Outside hitters Kylie Rodriguez, Jenna Hehman and Taylor Woods join middle blockers Tyra McKinnie and Violet Morrandez and libero/defensive specialist Abbi Sells. It is Louisiana Tech’s largest freshman class since 2022, when the Bulldogs’ current group of four-year seniors arrived in Ruston.
The weekend will also begin a new era for Louisiana Tech athletics as the Bulldogs compete in the Sun Belt Conference for the first time since 2000.
Louisiana Tech’s opener against Iona will be the first meeting between the programs.
The Bulldogs will see a more familiar opponent Saturday in Houston Christian. The Huskies lead the all-time series 6-1. The Trojans hold a 21-10 advantage in the all-time series.
The weekend schedule:
Friday
Little Rock vs. Houston Christian, 3:30 p.m.
Louisiana Tech vs. Iona, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
Little Rock vs. Iona, 1 p.m.
Louisiana Tech vs. Houston Christian, 4 p.m.
Sunday
Iona vs. Houston Christian, 11 a.m.
Louisiana Tech vs. Little Rock, 2 p.m.
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SOCCER
HOUSTON — Louisiana Tech picked up its first victory of the season Thursday night, defeating Houston Christian 1-0 at Sorrels Field behind an early goal from Madison Pensom and a career performance from freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Lorkowski.
The Bulldogs (1-2-1) were outshot 15-8 and faced 12 shots on goal, but Lorkowski stopped all 12 to record the clean sheet and give first-year Louisiana Tech head coach Matt Lodge his first victory with the program.
Pensom provided the game’s only goal in the 17th minute, scoring off assists from Ashley Leonhart and Abby Hanton. It was Pensom’s second goal of the season and third of her career.
Houston Christian (1-2-1) applied pressure after falling behind, taking five of its eight first-half shots following Pensom’s goal. Lorkowski made six saves before halftime, marking the second consecutive match in which the freshman recorded six first-half saves.
The Huskies continued to test Lorkowski after the break. She made two saves during the opening five minutes of the second half before turning away a flurry of Houston Christian opportunities following a corner kick with just over 15 minutes remaining.
The match entered a lightning delay with a little more than 10 minutes remaining. The delay lasted approximately 1 hour, 12 minutes before play resumed at 8:10 p.m.
Louisiana Tech preserved the one-goal advantage after returning to the field, with Lorkowski making her 12th and final save to establish a career high.
Her 12 saves are tied for the third-most by a freshman in a single match in Louisiana Tech history. Lorkowski now owns two of the top freshman single-game save performances in program history after previously recording 11 saves.
“I’m so proud of the group — it’s everything they’ve worked towards and earned,” Lodge said. “Winning is hard so we must enjoy and cherish each one, and that one felt special. The weather delay and sitting on the bus for an hour, they came off the bus ready to finish the job.
“Every player put in a shift against a very good opponent. The goal is to improve every day and we are doing that. Kenz, again, had a fantastic game and she keeps growing in confidence.”
The victory was Louisiana Tech’s first over Houston Christian since 2009 and its first in Houston since 2008. The Bulldogs improved to 3-1 all-time against the Huskies and 10-10-3 in road openers.
It also marked the first road shutout by a Louisiana Tech freshman goalkeeper since Ansley Ittel recorded a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory at Missouri State on Oct. 16, 2025.
The Bulldogs conclude their two-match Texas road trip Sunday when they face Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches. First touch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
