NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Three Golden Eagles finished with double-digit kills Saturday afternoon as Tennessee Tech defeated Tennessee State, 3-2 (20-25, 19-25, 25-11, 25-13, 15-11), at Kean Hall in Nashville, Tenn. Senior Amanda Lindgren paced the team with a match-high 16 kills, while juniors Leah Meffert and Marie Peddicord finished with 15 and 12, respectively.
After falling behind two sets to none to begin the match, TTU put in dominating performances in the next three stanzas to capture the team's third OVC victory of the season. Tech's record now stands at 4-12, 3-4 OVC while TSU falls to 2-14, 1-4 OVC.
The Golden Eagles recorded a season-best eight aces in the match, one more than the team's previous high that was set against William & Mary on Sept. 5. Meffert tallied a season-high three aces, while Lindgren added a pair. Seniors Teresa Craig and Katie Kenline along with junior Melanie Culp all recorded one ace apiece.
Culp made good decisions in running the Golden Eagle offense that finished with its second highest hitting percentage of the season, .281, including a .500 clip in the fifth and deciding set. Culp finished with a match-high 58 assists, the second most in her career, and added 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
Tech had six players hit .250-or-better in Saturday's match, including freshman Kelsey Gray (.316), Lindgren (.293), Peddicord (.276), Meffert (.270), Craig (.261) and freshman Katrina Dvorken (.250).
Kenline and Meffert paced the Golden Eagle back row defense as both players collected 22 digs, helping Tech to a 72-64 advantage in that category. Craig (11) and Culp (10) also finished the match with double-digit saves.
The TTU block was led by Gray who had seven stuffs (two solo) in the match to tie her second best performance this season. The Golden Eagles - who out-blocked the Lady Tigers, 10.0-5.0 - had five players with two-or-more blocks, including Gray (7.0), Peddicord (3.0), Lindgren (2.0), Meffert (2.0) and Culp (2.0).
Tech will return to action next weekend when the team will travel to Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri. The Golden Eagles will face off against the Panthers at 7 p.m. on Friday evening before taking on the Redhawks on Saturday at 2 p.m.
