COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Junior opposite Cody Dodd has found comfort at home this season, and Tuesday night was no different. Dodd wrote her name in the record books, putting down a career-high-tying 30 kills on a .314 hitting percentage. However, this time the 30 kills came in a four-set win over Jacksonville State, tying a school-record for kills in a four-set match. The record was set in 1997 by Rachel Melchiorre, making Dodd the sole record-holder for the rally scoring era.
More importantly, Dodd's performance helped the Golden Eagles (13-18, 8-7) take the four-set win (25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22) over the Gamecocks (17-15, 8-7) to clinch a spot in the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
Opening the match with a 8-1 run in the first set, Tech foreshadowed the effort they would display the entire match.
A slow start in set two, was the downfall for TTU in their lone dropped set of the evening. Tech fell down by six points early, but were slowly able to crawl back to just a one-point deficit, 22-23, but back-to-back JSU kills closed out the set.
Following a win in the third set, Dodd had 19, setting her up for one of the most impressive single set performances.
In the fourth set, Dodd registered an impressive 11 kills in the fourth set to record the 30 kills. Tech took the lead after a bit of a back and forth battle, and never relinquished, taking the set and the match.
Although Dodd's offensive performance was legendary, the fact she added a team-high 20 digs was a display of Dodd's ability to play the entire game. The double-double performance was the 11th of the season for Dodd.
Tech was aided offensively by freshman Kellie Williams who tallied 11 kills and two blocks. Senior middle blocker Madison Keyes recorded 7 kills, five digs and five blocks for a solid over all performance.
Sophomore Sharon Anderson dished out 48 assists and added 19 digs for her 11th double-double of the season as well. She also added three assists and a block.
Jacksonville State had three different players in double figures. Leading the way was Allyson Zuhlke with 17 kills. Following her was Nicole Merget with 12 and Emily Rutherford with 10. Rutherford also added 12 digs.
Tech will be back in action on Saturday evening as it host UT Martin for Senior Night at 5:30 pm CT. TTU will honor seniors Madison Keyes, Ellen Conti, Allison May, and Courtney Smith.
