Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
VOLLEYBALL
OMAHA, Neb. — Louisiana Tech rolled to its third victory of the season Thursday afternoon, sweeping Chicago State 3-0 at Baxter Arena.
The Bulldogs (3-1) defeated the Cougars 25-23, 25-8, 25-16 while hitting a season-best .306 as a team.
Tyra McKinnie led Louisiana Tech with 10 kills while hitting .600, recording her second double-digit kill performance of the season. Emerson Traylor and Sydnee Carter combined for 30 of the Bulldogs’ 37 assists, with Traylor leading the way with 16.
Louisiana Tech faced its biggest challenge in the opening set. The teams were tied at 21 before the Bulldogs closed on a 4-2 run, with Kylie Rodriguez delivering the set-winning kill for a 25-23 victory.
The Bulldogs took control early in the second set, using runs of seven and five consecutive points to build a 15-4 advantage. Louisiana Tech cruised from there to a 25-8 victory, its largest set win of the season.
Zahri Gillispie, Taylor Woods and McKinnie each recorded three kills in the second set, while nine Bulldogs had at least one.
Louisiana Tech carried the momentum into the third, building a 15-6 advantage by the media timeout. Chicago State made a late push, but the Bulldogs closed out the sweep with a 25-16 victory.
McKinnie had four kills on seven attempts and added a block in the final set.
Louisiana Tech also recorded nine service aces, with Abbi Sells and Carter contributing three apiece.
The Bulldogs continue play in the UNO Tournament on Friday when they face host Omaha at 6:30 p.m.
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GOLF
Louisiana Tech men’s golf will enter a new era this season as the Bulldogs begin their first year under head coach Keenan Hickton and their first as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
The Bulldogs announced their 2026-27 schedule, which features 10 regular-season tournaments before Louisiana Tech competes in its first Sun Belt Championship in April.
Louisiana Tech will host one tournament, the Argent Financial Classic, Sept. 27-29 at Squire Creek Country Club in Ruston.
The Bulldogs open the season Sept. 21-22 at the Florida Atlantic Invitational, hosted by Florida Atlantic in Jupiter, Florida, before returning home for the Argent Financial Classic.
Louisiana Tech closes its four-tournament fall schedule at the Trinity Forest Invitational, hosted by SMU in Dallas on Oct. 4-6, and The Clerico, hosted by Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Oct. 19-20.
“We are excited to play in a competitive tournament schedule which will prepare the Bulldogs for the Sun Belt Championship,” Hickton said. “We will test ourselves against some of the top talents in the country, and we will also compete on first-class, championship golf courses.”
Hickton also encouraged fans to support the Bulldogs during their lone home tournament.
“Like usual, the best golf course we play all season is Squire Creek,” Hickton said. “Please come out and support the Argent Financial Classic September 27-29 as we look to defend home turf.”
Louisiana Tech opens its six-tournament spring schedule Feb. 1-2 at the SeaBest Invitational, hosted by Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Bulldogs then travel to the Hal Williams Collegiate, hosted by South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, on Feb. 15-16, followed by the Louisiana Classics, hosted by UL-Lafayette in Lafayette, on March 8-9.
Louisiana Tech continues spring competition at the All-American Intercollegiate, hosted by Houston on March 15-16, and the Maridoe Collegiate, hosted by North Texas in Dallas on March 30-31.
The Bulldogs close the regular season April 12-13 at the Everett Buick GMC Classic, hosted by Little Rock in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Louisiana Tech will make its Sun Belt Championship debut April 26-29 in Madison, Mississippi.
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SOCCER
Louisiana Tech saw a potential tying goal erased by an offside call early in the second half, and McNeese capitalized on a pair of corner kicks to hand the Bulldogs a 2-0 loss Thursday night at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
The loss snapped a two-match winning streak for LA Tech, which fell to 2-3-1. McNeese improved to 4-3.
The Cowgirls controlled much of the opening half, outshooting the Bulldogs 13-7 and breaking through with just under eight minutes remaining before halftime.
Morgan Fiedler delivered a corner kick that Caitlyn Trosclair headed into the net to give McNeese a 1-0 advantage.
Freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Lorkowski kept the Bulldogs within striking distance with five first-half saves. McNeese’s 13 shots were the most LA Tech has allowed in a half this season.
The Bulldogs appeared to pull even in the 51st minute when Izzy Wilson found the net, but she was ruled offside. After a review lasting approximately five minutes, the call was upheld, keeping McNeese in front 1-0.
The Cowgirls added some insurance in the 64th minute, again converting off a corner kick. Isabella Baltov delivered the assist and Vitoria Mitre finished for a 2-0 advantage.
LA Tech managed only two shots on goal in the match. Brielle Buchanan, Abby Hanton and Juliette Starck led the Bulldogs with two shots apiece, with Starck putting one on target. Ashley Leonhart accounted for LA Tech’s other shot on goal.
The loss dropped the Bulldogs to 6-6-1 all-time against McNeese and marked the second time LA Tech has been shut out at home this season.
“We had a good week on the road, and then we come home and perform like that — we have to switch it really quick if we want to get some results,” LA Tech coach Matt Lodge said. “It’s my job to fix it — me and my staff will get it right, but at the end of the day we have to want to win.”
Louisiana Tech returns to the road Sunday to face Northwestern State at 1 p.m. in Natchitoches. The match will air on ESPN+.
