LA Tech Sweeps Cal State Fullerton - LA Tech Athletics (2024)

Kevin Albarez

• Box Score

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | 8/31/2024 3:06:00 PM | Kevin Albarez

FULLERTON, Calif. – Louisiana Tech used a 26-11 run between the second and third set to sweep Cal State Fullerton on the final day of the Fullerton Invitational at Titan Gym Saturday morning.

A day after taking the last three sets to pick up their first win of the season, Louisiana Tech (2-1) picked up right where they left off to sweep Cal State Fullerton (0-2), 25-18, 26-24, and 25-17.

The Bulldogs opened the day by scoring five of the first seven points. After a kill by Giulia Bonifacio, the lead grew to 13-8. The Titans tied the set at 13 with five straight points, assisted by a couple of Tech errors.

With LA Tech clinging to a one-point lead, Bonifacio and Charlize Williams would power the Bulldogs with two kills and three blocks in an 8-2 run to close out the first set.

At the beginning of the second set, Fullerton flipped the script and quickly raced out to a 12-5 lead. Tech gradually fought back and pulled within four at 21-17.

Fullerton sent a ball high, but it was originally called a tip, and it looked like the Titans would be on their way to the set win with a 22-17 lead. Coach McCray and the Bulldogs knew no one touched the ball and quickly challenged the call. After the review, the officials overturned the call, and Tech pulled the score to 21-18.

That would flip momentum, and the Bulldogs took advantage by tying the score at 22 before closing out the set with four of the final five points to take it 26-24.

The energy carried over, and Tech pushed its run to 26-11 and took control of the final set at 11-4. The teams traded small runs, but the Bulldogs closed it out with a 5-1 run.

Bonifacio led the way for the third straight match with 11 kills. Freshman Rori Gray added nine kills on a .444 hitting clip, while Williams hit .500 with seven kills and six blocks. McKenzie Johnson had 20 digs for the Bulldogs.

Ameena Campbell and Lyla Traylor led Fullerton with eight kills.

QUOTABLES
Head coach Amber McCray

"I'm so proud of the total team effort we saw from our crew from those on the floor to the sideline. We showed composure and resiliency to come back in that second set and that should provide a boost of confidence for us moving forward. Our setters did an excellent job of finding our middles today, and both Charlie and Rori delivered by hitting above .400 for the match. McKenzie was phenomenal all weekend anchoring our passing and defense, and we continue to rely heavily on her on-court leadership and experience. Each day we are continuing to gel a little more, and I'm beyond excited to keep growing with this team."

NOTABLES

• McKenzie Johnson finished with three aces, the 30thg time in her career with multiple aces in a match.
• The Bulldogs held Fullerton to a .069 hitting clip, the lowest allowed by Tech since holding Southern to .066 on Sept. 15, 2023.
• The Bulldogs are above .500 for the first time since Sept. 4, 2021, when they were 4-3.
• Tech improves to 2-0 all time against Cal State Fullerton.
• LA Tech starts the season 2-1 for the first time since 2019 when they started 3-0.

UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech has their home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 2, against Alcorn starting at 6:30 p.m.

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