Thomas receives preseason All-OVC nod, Tech volleyball sets sights on 2019 campaign

Posted: Aug 16, 2019

By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference announced its All-OVC preseason volleyball team and predicted team order of finish for the 2019 season, giving Tennessee Tech senior Rachel Thomas a Preseason All-OVC Team nod.

The 2019 season will be an exciting one for the Golden Eagles as head coach Jeannette Waldo and her coaching staff enter their sophomore campaign for the purple and gold.

"We have a much different team heading into this season than we did last season. We have great talent across the board," said coach Waldo. "We will be a young team, but that doesn't mean we will be an inexperienced team. Everyone coming in is ready to contribute because they have put in the work ahead of time. We seem a lot more ready heading into this preseason than we did this time last year, so we are in a really good spot. There are a lot of options potentially that we didn't feel like we had at this point in the season last year. I think what we have to our advantage is the unknown right now, which is exciting for us because we are still able to develop some of that. We know we have a lot of exciting pieces."

Thomas is primed to make a statement during her senior season with the Golden Eagles. As a junior, the Okemos, Mich. native was honored as an OVC Co-Offensive Player of the Week and finished first on the team and tied for 10^th in the OVC in total blocks (105), including 19 solo blocks. She also led the team in hitting percentage (.260) and finished the season second for the Golden Eagles in kills (311) and points (380).

"Rachel was really solid for us all season last year, so it's nice seeing that the league recognizes that going into her senior season," expressed Waldo. "We all know what she is capable of doing, and we are excited to see how she puts her stamp on her last season here at Tech."

The Golden Eagles also return a pair of important cogs from last season, which includes the Tech's leading scorer in junior Ali Verzani and sophomore Taylor Dorsey. Verzani led the team total kills (332), kills per set (2.84), and points per set (3.3). She was also recognized as an OVC Co-Offensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week during Tech's 2018 campaign.

"Ali became an integral part of what we did last year, both offensively and defensively," stated Waldo. "She is a leader and she has been a leader last season since the last ball dropped, over summer, and even into this preseason. She is also a lot more comfortable in her role and has risen up into a leadership role as the 2018 season progressed," said Waldo. "Now she's there and determined and should be an exciting player to watch."

Dorsey returns for the Golden Eagles following a stellar freshman campaign. She finished second on the team in total blocks with 78, including seven solo blocks. She also produced the second-best hitting percentage for the Tech squad (0.223) and finished the season with 188 kills.

"Taylor has come a lot into her own skin since last fall. The coaching staff has high expectations for her, and she has high expectations for herself," said Waldo. "There is a lot of depth at her position and she knows that, but she is working really hard to fight every day in practice to prove that she will be the one."

The Golden Eagles will compete in the Purple vs. Gold Scrimmage on Aug. 23 before opening their 2019 season with a road test on Aug. 24 against Lipscomb and will play their first 11 matches away from home before taking on Western Illinois on Friday, Sept. 20 at noon in their official home opener in the Hooper Eblen Center.

2019 All-OVC Volleyball Preseason Team

Ginny (Gerig) Busse, Austin Peay

Chandler Clark, Morehead State

Hope Everett, SIUE

Becca Fernandez, Murray State

Kaylee Frear, Jacksonville State

Rachel Giustino, Murray State

Lexie Libbs, Jacksonville State

Olivia Lohmeier, Morehead State

Rachel McDonald, SIUE

Brooke Moore, Austin Peay

Hannah Phillips, UT Martin