By Jocelyn VerVelde, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
2014 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Bracket
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech volleyball team is heading back to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament for the first time since 2010. Tech heads into the tournament as the fifth seed, and will open play with a 5:30 P.M. CT match on Thursday evening versus fourth-seed Jacksonville State. The tournament is being held on the campus of first-seed Murray State.
TTU and Jax State split the regular season, each winning in its respective gymnasiums. When Tech traveled to Jacksonville, Ala., the Gamecocks got the upper hand winning 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 20-25. 27-25). However, the match in Cookeville boded in favor of the Golden Eagles, who won 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22).
The last time TTU found itself in the OVC volleyball tournament was in 2010, when Tech went in as the sixth seed and took down third seed JSU, 19-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21, 15-11, in the opening round. Tech then fell in the semifinals to No. 2 Austin Peay, 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, and 25-18. APSU went on to win the championship that year.
"We prepare for this like every other week," head coach Dave Zelenock said of heading to the conference tournament. "We went through the same cycle we do with training and scouting. Everyone knows if we lose the season is over, but that's not our focus. We focused on our skills early in the week and then game plan and discuss strategy the later part of the week. This is a shorter week so we modified it a bit, but we have short weeks in season so we just used that schedule."
The Golden Eagles are the comeback kids this season, after going 1-15 in conference play last season.
"Winning is a habit, and like all good habits it's tough to form," Zelenock said of the turnaround. "This starts us down that road of forming that habit. It's like working out, if you are trying to get in shape and do it for three months then take a week off it's very tough to get going again. So moving forward when this season is done, we will continue to pressure our players to keep improving and forming those good habits. In the short term, it has helped us land two very good 2016 recruits, gained some confidence for our younger players and given our seniors something to be proud of. Hopefully years from now we are a very successful program and this group can say they started it."
TOURNEY NOTES
WEEKLY HONORS
Tech claimed seven weekly awards through out the season. Senior libero Courtney Smith claimed four adidas® OVC Defensive Player of the Week awards (9/22, 9/29, 11/10, 11/17), the most of any player in the OVC this season. Junior opposite Cody Dodd claimed three Offensive Player of the Week awards (9/15, 10/27, 11/17), tied for most of any individual with Murray States Scottie Ingram.
NEW TERRITORY
The Tennessee Tech volleyball has reached new territory for 92.9 percent of the Golden Eagle roster, including the coaching staff. Considering the last time TTU was in the tournament was 2010, that would leave most of the current roster in high school, and even some in grade school, except fifth-year senior Allison May. May was the starting libero in 2010, tallying 17 digs in both matches.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
- Tech is 12-14 in the OVC Tournament dating back to the 1988 season. Tech has also claimed the tournament championship in 2008 and 1997.
- Twenty-two TTU players have been named to the OVC All-Tournament team all time back to 1982
- TTU is 1-2 in OVC Tournaments hosted at Murray State. In 1989, TTU went 1-1, losing in the semifinals to Morehead State. Murray State would go on to with the 1989 championship. In 1996, TTU went 0-1, losing in the first round to UT Martin. SEMO would eventually go on to win the 1996 championship.
- TTU has had two OVC Tournament MVPS – Kappy Lang (2008) and Rachel Melchiorre (1997)
- Tech has only been the five seed twice since seeding started in 1998. The five seed has proved to not be friendly as TTU is 0-2 in that position. In 1999, No. 5 TTU lost to No. 4 Murray State in the first round, 3-0. In 2009, TTU lost the first round again to No. 4 Murray State, 3-1.
PRESEASON ALL-TOURNEY HONORS
During the preseason tournament's three different Golden Eagles earned All-Tournament honors. Following the opening tournament at Appalachian State, Kellie Williams earned an all-tournament nod for her impressive play. Junior Cody Dodd, who recorded a career-best 18 kills against Norfolk State, matched that number with 18 kills against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. She also added a career-best 20 digs, for her second double-double in as many days, adding three aces and two blocks. Dodd's performance over the weekend earned her a spot on the East Carolina Invitational All-Tournament team. The final Golden Eagle to earn an all-tournament spot was senior libero Courtney Smith who averaged an insane 6.0 digs per set following the Spartanburg Courtyard Classic hosted by Wofford.
LEADER HONOR
Senior Ellen Conti has been held off the court for most of the 2014 season due to a shoulder injury, however that has not held her back from leading the team. She won the inaugural Unsung Leader Award presented by the TTU Athletics Department. This award honors a varsity student-athlete who has made a positive impact on their team and the Tennessee Tech community as a whole, through his or her dedication to demonstrating leadership traits, such as:
* Keep Learning, Growing, and Improving
* Follow Through with Excellence
* Accomplish More than Expected
* Inspire and Motivate Others
WHERE WE RANK
OVC Overall Team:
Hitting Percentage: 12th - .162
Opponents Hitting Pct.: 6th - .201
Assists: 12th – 10.66
Kills: 12th – 11.23
Blocks: 2nd – 1.96
Service Aces: 6th – 1.32
Digs: 5th– 15.74
OVC Overall Individuals:
Kills: 2nd - Cody Dodd, 3.58
Assists: 7th – Sharon Anderson, 9.43
Service Aces: 1st – Cody Dodd, 0.40
Blocks: 1st – Jordan Wachowiak, 1.21
Digs: 1st – Courtney Smith, 5.14
Points: 1st – Cody Dodd, 4.36
OVC Only Team:
Hitting Percentage: 12th - .158
Opponents Hitting Pct.: 6th - .197
Assists: 12th – 11.02
Kills: 12th – 11.77
Blocks: 8th – 1.81
Service Aces: 6th – 1.23
Digs: 4th– 16.76
OVC Only Individuals:
Kills: 2nd - Cody Dodd, 3.97
Assists: 6th – Sharon Anderson, 9.73
Service Aces: 1st – Cody Dodd, 0.44, 8th - Allison Morrett, 0.33
Blocks: 2nd – Jordan Wachowiak, 1.18
Digs: 1st – Courtney Smith, 5.56
Points: 2nd – Cody Dodd, 4.75
National Rankings
Team
Total Aces: 49th
Total Digs: 31st
Digs Per Set: 89th
Individual
Digs Per Set: 25th - Courtney Smith
Blocks Per Set: 73rd – Jordan Wachowiak
Total Digs: 14th - Courtney Smith
Total Service Aces: 13th – Cody Dodd
Aces Per Set: 34th - Cody Dodd
Total Assists: 60th – Sharon Anderson
Total Kills: 53rd – Cody Dodd
Points Per Set: 67th - Cody Dodd
