By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team will close out its non-conference slate for the 2023 season with an in-state trip to Jefferson City and a doubleheader against Carson-Newman Wednesday morning.
First serve for the day is slated for 10:00 a.m. CT while the second match is scheduled for an approximate 12:00 p.m. start. The tilts represent a rematch opportunity for the Golden Eagles, having dropped their first meeting with Carson-Newman at the Berry College Tournament back on Feb. 24, Tech's inaugural day of action.
Carson-Newman heads into its final home matches a perfect 19-0 on the season, dropping no more than one set in any contest during the year.
"We're excited to have another crack at Carson-Newman," Tech head coach Zach Weinberg expressed. "When we saw them the first time, we were still figuring out who we were as a beach team and we weren't truly prepared to play a team that talented. Now that we have had some time to figure out who we are, we're definitely in a better place to compete with them."
In the first tilt between the programs, Carson-Newman bested the Golden Eagles 4-1, but the purple and gold showed life throughout the competition. Morgan Gish and Jordan Karlen teamed up to take a win in the No. 3 position, 16-21, 21-15, 15-12. Brooke Amanna and McKenna Young narrowly missed out on securing a second win at the No.4 spot, falling 15-21, 21-14, 15-11.
"Taking Carson-Newman down will certainly be a challenge," Weinberg added. "Not a team in the country has been able to do that this year, but we're ready for that challenge. We have some new pairs that I think will complement each other well and I'm excited to see them in a competition setting."
Continuing the No. 1 role for the purple and gold will be Skylar Boom and Aleeya Jones. The duo has represented Tech at the top spot all season and helped lead the way to the program's first-ever Ohio Valley Conference victory last weekend, a 4-1 decision against Eastern Illinois.
Madolyn Isringhausen and Bella Powell will compete together for the first time this season, making up a new No. 2 duo for the Golden Eagles. Also sharing the sand for the first time as a combo this year are Jordan Karlen and Brooke Amann, taking over the No. 3 position for Wednesday.
At the No. 4 slot, Morgan Gish and McKenna Young will team up again after picking up one of the team's two victories in the weekend finale against Chattanooga, a 21-17, 25-23 triumph out of the No. 4 position. The No. 5 role will go to Jazmine Yamilkoski and Olivia Taylor, pairing together for the first time.
Rounding out the Golden Eagle squad while competing in exhibition play will be the duo of Katie DiRaimondo and Emma Pabon.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will host their first-ever home matches, squaring off with Ohio Valley Conference rival Morehead State in Cookeville on Sunday, Apr. 2. Tech and Morehead will play a doubleheader at the Tech Beach Volleyball Courts, with matches currently slated for 12:00 p.m. CT and 2:00 p.m.
Photo by Jim Dillon
