By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech volleyball season is right around the corner, and as we edge closer to game one, it is time to announce the 2016 Preseason All-OVC Volleyball Team. One Golden Eagle was honored on the list this year: junior outside, Kellie Williams.
"Two years in a row she's been our second lead attacker, and I think she got overshadowed a lot because Cody was who she was, but Kellie is a point scorer," head coach Dave Zelenock remarked. "She doesn't make a lot of errors. It's either a point, or an open attack, so she usually has pretty good efficiency. But she's coming off a fairly major surgery. We have no idea what that will look like."
Williams saw action in 113 sets over 30 matches last season. She tallied 328 kills, averaging 2.80 kills per set, while accumulating a .180 attack percentage. Williams also gathered 52 digs and 44 blocks on the year. She set a career-high 28 kills versus UT Martin on November 13, and posted double-digit kills in 16 matches.
Also announced was the 2016 OVC Volleyball Predicted Team Order of Finish. After a trip to the semifinals in last year's OVC Tournament, this season, the Golden Eagle squad was projected to place seventh. Changes to this year's team include the loss of just one in the Purple and Gold, with the addition of six new Tech players including: Liz Bossong, Emily Brooks, Rachel Thomas, Abigail Duncan, Lexi Kingree, and Taylor Houck.
"I think there is a top four that is real obvious to everyone, and spots five throught 12 anyone could end up in at the end of the year," Zelenock continued. "But when you get to the tournament it could be anyone. So we just have to focus on coming in the top eight, and then hopefully make some noise in the conference tournament like we have the last two years."
The Golden Eagles kick off their 2016 season with a Purple vs. Gold Scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. in the Hooper Eblen Center. The Tech team will then hit the road to begin tournament play on Aug. 26-26 when they travel to Cullowhee, N.C., for the Catamount Volleyball Classic hosted by Western Carolina University.
2016 Preseason All-OVC Volleyball Team
Scottie Ingram, Murray State*
Arianna Person, Belmont*
Allie Hueston, Eastern Illinois*
Chloe Watson, Tennessee State*#
Nzingha Clarke, Southeast Missouri*
Meredith Jewell, Morehead State*#
Kristen Besselesen, Murray State*
Emma Price, Belmont*
Samantha Beltran, Tennessee State
Taylor Smith, Eastern Illinois#
Ellie Lorenz, Murray State
Ashley Witt, SIUE
Brie Lewis, Belmont
Kellie Williams, Tennessee Tech
* - All-OVC in 2015
# - All-Newcomer in 2015
2016 OVC Volleyball Predicted Team Order of Finish
1. Belmont (16 first-place votes) - 235 points
2. Murray State (Six first-place votes) - 227
3. Tennessee State - 178
4. Eastern Illinois - 172
5. Morehead State (Two first-place votes) - 159
6. Eastern Kentucky - 140
7. Tennessee Tech - 126
8. Southeast Missouri - 92
9. SIUE - 89
10. Jacksonville State - 82
t11. Austin Peay - 38
t11. UT Martin - 38
(*Schools were not allowed to rank their own team. 11 points awarded for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)
