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By: Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—After three straight tournaments on the road, the Tennessee Tech volleyball team (1-9, 0-0 OVC) returns home to host the Golden Eagle Invitational presented by Hampton Inn on Friday-Saturday. The tournament will feature teams of the Towson Tigers, the Western Carolina Catamounts, and the Idaho Vandals. The Golden Eagle Invitational presented by Hampton Inn will be the last tournament Tech participates in before beginning conference play.
Towson (10-1)
The Tigers are members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). Led by Don Metil, who returns for his third season, this year, Towson compiled a 27-5 overall record with a 13-3 conference mark. In 2014, the Tigers led the CAA in hitting percentage (.270) as well as service aces per set (1.49). Returning to Towson is senior, Haley Pa'akaula. Last season, Pa'akaula led the Tigers in double-doubles (10), and finished the year with 265 digs and 48 blocks. Also leading the way for Towson is senior, Aimee Schubert. In 2014, Schubert led the team with 730 assists and posted 238 digs and 23 service aces. Currently on a 10-game winning streak, the Tigers only lost their first match of the year to Tennessee and since have gone undefeated. Comprised of big hitters and servers, Towson will serve as a strong opponent for the Golden Eagles.
Western Carolina (5-6)
Karen Glover, who begins her fourth season at the helm of Western Carolina, heads the Catamount volleyball team. Members of the Southern Conference (SoCon), Western Carolina compiled a 17-15 overall record, going 9-7 in conference play. The Catamounts' key player to watch is sophomore, Jo-Leigh Vervelde. A 2014 SoCon All-Freshman Team selection, Vervelde scored 203.5 points, posting 649 assists, 153 kills, 41 blocks and 28 aces last season. Vervelde recorded her first triple-double last season (10/31) acquiring 10 kills, 30 assists and 15 digs against Chattanooga.
Idaho (2-7)
At the tiller of the Vandal volleyball program is head coach Debbie Buchanan. Buchanan returns to Idaho for her 16th season with a coaching record of 230-213 (.519). Members of the Big Sky Conference, the Vandals compiled a 15-14 overall record, finishing 11-5 in conference in 2014. Returning to Idaho is senior, Meredith Coba. Coba was named a 2014 First-Team All-Big Sky. She led the conference with 11.07 assists per set, ranking 26th in the NCAA Coba totaled 1,118 assists in 2014, and recorded six double-doubles on the season, finishing with 55 blocks and 189 digs. Another player to watch is senior, Katelyn Peterson. In 2014, Peterson finished the season second in kills (234) and recorded a career-high .722 hitting percentage at Eastern Washington. She led the Vandals in double-doubles (seven) and averaged 2.17 kills, 2.82 digs, and 2.50 points per set.
Golden Eagles (1-9, 0-0 OVC)
The Tech volleyball team opened their 2015 season by participating in three tournaments, the Wright State Invitational, the Tennessee Volleyball Invitational, and the Memphis Invitational. Alyssa Povey was named to the Wright State All-Tournament team, while teammate Cody Dodd was named to the Tennessee Volleyball Invitational All-Tournament team, as well as the Memphis Invitational All-Tournament team.
The Golden Eagles continue to grow as a team and captured their first win of the season at the Memphis Invitational where they defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-0, with winning set scores of 25-16, 25-21, and 25-14. In the match against the Golden Lions, Dodd totaled 11 kills, six digs and a .333 hitting percentage.
Senior, Dodd continues to pave the way for Tech already totaling 135 kills (.203 hitting percentage), 78 digs, and 24 blocks on the season. She posted her third double-double of the year in the match against Memphis, capturing 18 kills and 10 digs, and has accounted for 158.5 of the Golden Eagle's 496 points thus far.
Other key contributors to the Tech team are sophomore, Kellie Williams and freshman, Shaneice James. Williams has racked up 86 kills, 12 blocks, and 93.5 points for the Golden Eagles so far this season, while teammate James has reported 32 kills, 32 blocks, and 53 points on behalf of Tech.
The Golden Eagles kick off the weekend's matches at the Eblen Center on Friday against Towson in a 10 a.m. match-up, then face off against Western Carolina at 7:30 p.m. Tech closes out tournament play against Idaho on Saturday with first serve slated for 8:30 a.m. Other matches happening in the Eblen Center this weekend are: Western Carolina versus Idaho at 12:30 p.m. and Towson versus Idaho at 5 p.m. on Friday, and Towson versus Western Carolina at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Admission is free to all volleyball matches.
