By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information
LA SALLE LIVE STATS | AKRON LIVE STATS | LOYOLA (Md.) LIVE STATS
AKRON, Ohio – Now three matches into its season, Tennessee Tech volleyball heads north this weekend for its second of four-consecutive tournaments and first of three in the state of Ohio.
The Akron Invitational, hosted by the Zips, features Tech, Akron, La Salle and Loyola (Md). The Golden Eagles kick off tournament play at 3 p.m. CT with La Salle and will play a double-header Saturday starting with Akron at 11:30 a.m. CT and Loyola (Md.) following at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Tech is coming off a 2-1 season start from the Hampton Inn Holly Springs Invitational last weekend, where it swept North Carolina Central, defeated The Citadel in five sets and fell to host school Campbell in three sets.
It proved to be a productive few days for the Golden Eagles. Senior Kellie Williams and junior Shealene Little were named to the all-tournament team after Williams, playing in her first matches since succumbing to a knee injury midway through the 2016 season, totaled 37 kills through the three matches and Little collected 34 kills and 33 digs.
Against North Carolina Central, Tech's season opener, the team recorded its highest hitting percentage in a match (.364) in nearly three years. Redshirt freshman Taylor Houck's .412 hitting percentage off 17 attempts helped contribute to that and was one of the factors that helped her earn Newcomer of the Week honors from the Ohio Valley Conference.
Susie Jeziorowski, in her first few matches as Tech's starting setter, will look to continue her good season start into this weekend. The junior ranks third in the OVC with 108 total assists and a 9.82 set average. Middle blocker Rachel Thomas ranks fifth in the conference in hitting percentage, totaling a .359 percentage off 39 total attempts. She has also been solid defensively for Tech, averaging 1.09 blocks per set through three matches. Libero Allison Morrett is fourth in the OVC with an average of 4.91 digs per set and 54 total.
The Golden Eagles hold an 8-2 all-time series advantage over Akron. They have never played La Salle or Loyola (Md).
A LOOK AT THE AKRON INVITATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
La Salle Explorers (3-1)
- 2016 overall record: 10-20
- 2016 conference (Atlantic 10) record: 1-13
- Predicted 2017 Atlantic 10 finish: 9th/10 teams
Akron Zips (1-2)
- 2016 overall record: 8-20
- 2016 conference (MAC) record: 3-13
- Predicted 2017 MAC finish: 6th (in East Division)/6 teams
Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds (0-3)
- 2016 overall record: 6-21
- 2016 conference (Patriot League) record: 3-13
- Predicted 2017 Patriot League finish: 7th/9 teams
