By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information
DAYTON, Ohio – Having checked its double-header off its to-do list on Friday, Tennessee Tech volleyball only had one match to play Saturday to close out its Holiday Inn Invitational appearance.
Tech faced Harvard to end the tournament and fell in three sets 22-25, 23-25 and 21-25.
Junior Shealene Little represented Tech on the Holiday Inn Invitational all-tournament team, her second-such honor of the season. Over the weekend's three matches, she totaled 32 kills, 25 digs and 32 points and hit a collective .228. Her hitting percentage of .350 vs. West Virginia was her second-highest mark of the season.
Outside hitter Abigail Duncan also made an impact throughout the tournament. She played in eight sets and made her first start of the season against Wright State. The sophomore collected 16 kills, nine digs and 20.5 points over the three matches and hit a staggering .583 of 12 attempts in today's Harvard match-up.
"She's good," said head coach Dave Zelenock. "She's always a spark for us. She seems to do a lot better in that role coming off the bench when she's had time to look and see what's working."
Tech trailed 18-14 in set one and mounted a comeback with Harvard about to take the set at 24-18. The Golden Eagles scored four-straight until Harvard grabbed the set win at 25-22.
The Golden Eagles and Crimson traded points early in set two until Tech pulled away for a 14-9 lead. It couldn't hold on, as the Crimson cut the deficit to 17-16 and then pulled ahead 20-18. Harvard went on to win the set 25-23.
Tech also started the third set with a 6-1 lead, but Harvard rallied to tie it up at 12-all. Some unfortunate Tech errors helped Harvard build a 20-16 lead, and the Crimson took the set and match at 25-21.
With Tech approaching its final nonconference tilts next weekend, Zelenock said the team will work on closing out matches.
"In sets two and three, we had six-point leads," he said. "We've got to finish matches."
2017 HOLIDAY INN INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
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Photo by Jim Dillon
