By MATT DEARMAN
mwd004@latech.edu
Tech volleyball’s Western Athletic Conference struggles
continued this past
weekend following a three-game loss to
The loss dropped the Techsters
to 13-7 on the year, 1-4 in the WAC, while the Aggies
improved to 9-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Tech’s offense struggled
out of the gate, recording just eight kills to New Mexico State’s 20 in game
one, allowing the Aggies to take the opener with a
30-23 score.
Games two and three also proved to be more offensive
disappointments for the Techsters, as they tallied
just ten kills with nine errors in each of the games, losing by scores of 30-19
and 30-18. Tech recorded a poor .054 hitting percentage in the contest.
Sophomore Shannon Phillips anchored the Tech offense in
the match with 11 kills, followed by junior Ambra
Hayes with seven and sophomore Carly Johnson with
five. Sophomore Maria Romanowski also contributed to
the effort with a team high 25 assists.
Defensively, the Techsters were
led by freshman Meghan Haas with 14 digs, with Hayes adding 11.
Prior to the meeting with New Mexico
State, the Techsters traveled to Nacogdoches, Texas,
where they fell to Stephen F. Austin in three games.
Tech was able to tally 14 kills in the match opener, but
poor execution and 10 errors opened the door for the Lady Jacks (13-2) to take
a one game advantage with a 30-24 score.
The Techster offense collapsed
in the second game, recording just four kills with eight errors en route to a
-.133 hitting percentage and a 30-16 loss to give the Lady Jacks a 2-0
advantage.
SFA put Tech away in game three with a near flawless
performance, where the Lady Jacks amassed 15 kills with just one error to win
the game and the match with a 30-14 score.
Phillips was Tech’s leading producer on offense in the
match, with 11 kills. Senior Stacey Clark also contributed with seven kills and
sophomore Jill Walker added 21 assists on the night.
Haas led the defensive effort for Tech with 16 digs, followed
by Sabrina Sims with seven and Walker and Phillips with five each.
“We can definitely get back on the right track,” head
coach Heather Mazeitis said.