By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team wraps up the regular season Friday and Saturday, competing in the final Ohio Valley Conference weekend at Martin, Tenn. The Golden Eagles open the event with an 8:00 a.m. CT dual with Lindenwood Friday morning before taking on Chattanooga in a noon tilt.
On Saturday, the purple and gold will square off with weekend host UT Martin with a 12:00 p.m. match-up that will be live-streamed on ESPN+. Tech concludes the action at 4:00 p.m., taking on Eastern Illinois in the final bout of the regular season.
"Back in January, when we started our season," Tech head coach Zach Weinberg explained, "something that [assistant coach] Fran [Bolletino] and I spoke about a ton with the team was to 'Make the error now. Go for the harder shot now. Stretch yourself now, so that in April, when we want to be trending upwards and playing our best volleyball, it will be ingrained in you.' Well, it's April, and it's time to show the improvement we've made over the course of the season with conference foes on the opposite side of the net."
With at least two victories over the weekend, the Golden Eagles can match last year's win total of eight. Two triumphs would also tie Tech's wins mark in OVC play from its inaugural campaign in 2023.
Last time out, the Golden Eagles split a pair of duals in Clarksville, Tenn. while squaring off with a pair of former OVC programs. Tech earned its first 5-0 sweep of a Division I foe in program history, topping the Gamecocks in dominant fashion.
"We're a better unit and more prepared to face this quartet of teams than we were a month ago, but we know all four teams will be better as well," Weinberg added. "Ultimately, we need to put our foot on the gas and give everything we've got so that we are best prepared for the OVC Tournament next week. If we do that, then I think we'll be in a great spot in Martin over the next two days."
Up Next
Next up for the Golden Eagles is the OVC Tournament, taking place in Morehead, Ky. Thursday Apr. 25 through Saturday, Apr. 27.
Photo by Jim Dillon
