By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a tough day at the office for the Tennessee Tech volleyball team Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (10-8, 5-2) couldn't quite find the momentum in a 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 25-17) loss to in-state and Ohio Valley Conference rival Austin Peay.
Set one on the day saw the visitors from Clarksville come right out firing once again, similar to Friday evening. The Govs took as large as a 7-point lead at 19-12, but the Golden Eagles showed the resilience they have all season, using a 5-1 run to climb right back into the thick of things. Tech closed things to as close as a single point at 24-23, but Austin Peay held on for the 25-23 win and 1-0 match lead.
The Govs broke a 12-12 tie in the second set, using a 7-1 run and streak of Tech attack errors to run out front 19-13. Austin Peay matched the home effort the rest of the game, taking a 2-0 lead with a 25-19 win.
Refusing to go quietly, the Golden Eagles fought tooth and nail with their long-time foe in the third set, snapping a deadlock of 14-14 with a 5-0 run backed by a pair of Morgan Gish kills. Two terminations from Madeline Furtado wrapped up the third, giving Tech a 25-19 victory to stave off the Govs.
Austin Peay evened the season series in the fourth set, using a trio of attack errors, a kill, and a service ace to turn a four-point lead into a nine-point advantage. Tech battled, but the visitors closed out the match with a 25-17 set win.
Outside hitter Madeline Isringhausen tied for the match lead and paced the purple and gold with 15 kills, hitting .195 with three blocks and five digs. Joining her fellow outside in double-figures was redshirt-sophomore Madeline Furtado, delivering 12 kills on a sweet .333 attack percentage.
Libero McKenna Young racked up a team-high 13 digs, her 10th-straight match with double-digit total of digs. She added five assists one night after posting a career-high seven. Setter Ashley Hand topped the match with 33 assists while clocking her eighth double-double of the year with 12 digs. The senior also hit .571 with four kills and a block.
Middle blocker Skylar Boom led the match with five blocks, including a solo rejection, while also connecting with Hand for seven kills. Right side Morgan Gish collected nine kills with a block and four digs.
The Golden Eagles will return to action Friday, Oct. 15 for a 6:00 p.m. on the road at Murray State. Tech will wrap up the weekend at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 with another tilt with the Racers.
File photo by Jim Dillon