LA Tech volleyball opens season with loss
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Madeline Davis, a true freshman, recorded a school record 13 blocks in the Lady Techsters season opener against UIC at the Redhawks Invitational on Friday morning at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The season opener, however, ended in disappointing fashion for the Lady Techsters, who dropped a five setter to UIC in the opening game of the Redhawks Invitational.
The Lady Techster attack was led by Angie Papach who set a career-high with 19 kills. Freshman Makayla Vian showed no hesitance introducing herself to Division I competition recording 14 kills in her collegiate debut. Brooke Short set a career-high with 55 assists.
The loss certainly wasn’t due to lack of opportunity nor effort, as the Lady Techsters got off to a hot start, taking the first set by a final score of 25-22. With the score knotted at 18-18, Louisiana Tech went on to score the next six points, locking up a victory in the first set of the 2016 campaign.
Unfortunately for Louisiana Tech, that is where missed opportunities began to come into play. The Lady Techsters took a 19-17 leads on a kill by Mikayla Vian, but the Flames would score the next four points, while not allowing Louisiana Tech to regain the lead for the remainder of the set. UIC would win the second set 25-22.
LA Tech was in danger of dropping a second consecutive tightly contest set, as UIC held a 24-22 lead, serving for the set point. Backto-back kills from Papach and Marta Monne tied the game at 24-24. An ace from Nia Myah Johnson handed the set to Louisiana Tech, 27-25.
In the fourth set, twice Louisiana Tech served for the match point, once with a 24-23 lead and again with a 25-24 lead. Both times the Lady Techsters could not finish off the Flames who clawed back to win the set 27-25.
LA Tech never saw a lead in the final set and saw just one tie as the Flames took home the victory with a 15-9 fifth set.
In the second game of the day, the Lady Techsters were led by Nia Johnson who recorded 12 kills and 16 digs. Freshman Courtney Rutledge also recorded a double-double, in what was her collegiate debut, with 16 assists and 10 digs.
LA Tech jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first set, but found themselves in a hole trailing 18-11. LA Tech battled back though, tying the game at 21. Unfortunately UNO would regroup to score the next four points and take the first set 25-21.
After UNO took the second set 25-20, Louisiana Tech rallied with their backs against the wall to pull out a 25-21 victory. UNO would end any more hope of a LA Tech comeback, slamming the door with a commanding 25-13 win in the fourth and final set of the match.