By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Redshirt freshman Taylor Houck has been named the adidas® OVC Newcomer of the Week, as announced by the Ohio Valley Conference office Monday in its first weekly honors release of the 2017 season.

Redshirting the 2016 season due to injury, opposite Houck officially began her Tech career with a bang at the Hampton Inn Holly Springs Invitational in Buies Creek, North Carolina, this past weekend. In the Golden Eagles' season-opening match against North Carolina Central, Houck led the team with 10 kills, 12.5 points and two service aces, also collecting a .412 hitting percentage off 17 attempts to help Tech to a 3-0 win.

Houck's hitting percentage in that match contributed to a team clip of .364, Tech's highest since it hit .374 against Prairie View A&M on Sept. 13, 2014.

Tech posted a tournament record of 2-1, defeating The Citadel 3-2 and falling to Campbell 0-3. Over the three-match span, Houck totaled 23 kills, five service aces, five digs, seven blocks (one solo) and 32 points. She leads Tech in service aces and ranks second in blocks and third in kills and points.

Houck is the first Tech volleyball player to win a conference honor since Sharon Anderson was named Setter of the Week on Oct. 10, 2016. She is also the first-ever from Tech to win Newcomer of the Week, which was introduced as an award category in the 2015 season.

The Golden Eagles head to Ohio this week for the Akron Invitational hosted by the Zips. Tech will face La Salle in its tournament opener on Friday, Sept. 1 and play a double-header against Akron and Loyola (Md.) on Saturday.

Photo by Thomas Corhern