By MATT DEARMAN

Sports Writer

A high-powered offense from Southern Methodist University proved too much for the Lady Techster volleyball team to handle as SMU dispatched Tech in four games Saturday afternoon in the Thomas Assembly Center.

Tech fell to 5-11 on the year, 1-2 in the Western Athletic Conference following the loss, while SMU improved to 7-5, 2-1 in the WAC.

"We came out slow," Tech's head coach Heather Mazeitis said. "If we had played the first two games like we did the third, it would have been a different game."

After losing the first two games by scores of 30-27 and 30-28, the Lady Techsters came out strong in game three by taking a commanding 10-1 lead.

The Mustangs fought back throughout game three, cutting the lead to two points before Tech closed the door with a late rally to win the game 30-22.

The Lady Techsters' tenacity carried over into game four, where the lead changed hands four times, and the score was tied 12 times before SMU finally seized the win.

Despite challenging the Mustangs through the majority of the contest, Tech's offense died out late in game four, clearing the way for SMU to take the match with a 30-26 score.

Tech's defense produced a solid performance despite the loss with senior Heather Anderson leading the way with 27 digs.

Seniors Megan Rush and Joy Okpa recorded 22 and 21 digs, respectively.

Tech's defense posted an impressive 106 digs, as well as adding 11 blocks in the contest.

The loss to SMU marked the second-straight defeat for the Lady Techsters, who also suffered a three-game sweep by Oral Roberts University on Oct. 1st.

In the match with Oral Roberts (9-9), Tech was unable to produce much offensively, and the Golden Eagles were able to coast to victory in each of the three games.

The Lady Techsters started off strong in game one by taking a 4-1 lead but were unable to capitalize on the lead and surrendered the game 30-26.

Tech's woes carried into game two, as 10 errors combined with only nine kills gave Oral Roberts an easy 30-18 win.

The Lady Techsters would never reclaim momentum, as the Golden Eagles clinched the match with an eight-point win in game three.

Anderson also led Tech's defense against Oral Roberts with 12 digs, followed by Rush's eight digs and freshman Ryhann Enny's seven digs. Rush was also the Lady Techsters' biggest producer offensively with 10 of Tech's 32 kills in the match.

"Our defense is playing really well," Mazeitis said. "So once our offense gets it together we'll be rolling. That excites me."

The match with Oral Roberts snapped a two-game hot streak for the Lady Techsters, who defeated Lamar University 3-0 in Beaumont, Texas, on Sept. 28.

Tech put forth a well-balanced offensive attack against Lamar (7-10), with five players recording at least nine kills and senior Natalie Shipp leading the pack with 12 kills.

Ambra Hayes followed Ship with 11 kills. Okpa recorded 10 kills, and freshman Shannon Phillips and Rush both registered nine kills. Anderson tallied up 17 digs to anchor the Lady Techsters' defense.

Tech will return to action on Oct. 7 when they face conference opponent Rice University to begin a two-match road trip, before returning to the Thomas Assembly Center to host the nationally-ranked University of Hawaii Wahine on Oct. 14.