By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – One of the most offensively gifted players to don the purple and gold, Leah Meffert Turner was a force to be reckoned with in the Ohio Valley Conference for four seasons, littering her name throughout the Tennessee Tech volleyball record book.
She is one of five inductees into the 47th class of the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame. After forgoing last year's induction ceremony due to the ongoing factors surrounding COVID-19, the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame returns in 2021 and will hold its 46th and 47th inductions during Homecoming weekend, Nov. 12-13. In addition to the Class of 2020 being recognized, the Class of 2021 will also be honored and officially inducted, with Meffert Turner, Frank Harrell (men's basketball head coach/administration, 1980-present), Morris Irby (baseball, 1968-71), Chad Oberacker (baseball, 2008-11), and Ashley Potts Williams (softball, 2004-07) all set to join last year's class, consisting of A.J. Kirby-Jones (baseball, 2008-10), Stephanie Place Buchanan (women's cross country/track & field, 2005-10), Thomas Squires (football, 1985-87), and Borja Zarco (men's tennis, 2005-08), as the newest members of the TTU Sports Hall of Fame.
Competing for the Golden Eagles from 2007 through 2010, Meffert established herself almost immediately as a freshman, claiming the program's only OVC Newcomer of the Year honor, an All-OVC First Team nod, and a place on the OVC All-Newcomer Team. She began her trek to the top of the career charts, racking up the most kills in a single season during the rally-scoring era (2001-present). Her 548 kills in 2007 also rank as the second-most in the entire history of the program.
She also finished the year with 619.5 points for another rally-era record, 4.28 kills per set (fourth in rally era), a then-record 42 service aces (third now), 0.33 service aces per set (fifth in rally era, third then), and 449 digs (14th in rally era, fourth then).
Meffert completed her four-year career at the top of the all-time kills list with 1,734, more than 300 more than the next closest Golden Eagle during the rally era. It also marked the most in the entire program history. She also finished third all-time with 3.64 kills per set (second in rally era) and seventh with 126 service aces (second in rally era).
Other rally-era marks established by the Louisville native were her 1,968.5 points, 468 sets played, and 123 matches played. Her 4.21 points per set ranked second in the rally era while her 1,388 digs and 55 solo blocks each ranked her fifth.
She became one of just 10 players in program history to join the Double Grand Club (two career statistical categories of 1,000 or more) and one of nine to boast at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.
Consistency was key for the outside hitter, as Meffert is the only Golden Eagle in the rally era to boast three of the top-10 and four of the top-15 single-season marks for kills, kills per set, and points. She ranks tied for the second-most kills in a five-set match during the rally era, compiling 30 two times during her career (once in 2007 and again in 2010). She also boasts the fourth-highest hitting percentage in a three-set match in the rally era, accomplishing the feat in 2009.
In 2008, Meffert helped lead the Golden Eagles to the OVC regular-season title, becoming just the third player in program history to collect OVC Player of the Year honors. She also led the purple and gold to the league's tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
She was a four-time All-OVC representative, earning First Team honors in 2008 and 2009, Second Team honors in 2007, and overall honors in 2010 (the league recognized one team from 1984-87 and 2010-15). Meffert was also a two-time OVC All-Tournament Team representative (2008 and 2010).
Meffert earned her bachelor's degree from Tech in communications in 2011 and currently resides in Louisville.
The Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Friday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. CT in the Multipurpose Room of the University Center. Tickets are available through the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office by calling 931-372-3940 or by visiting TTUSports.com. Both groups will also be recognized at the Homecoming football game on Saturday afternoon against UT Martin, which features a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
