By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
LOVELAND, Ohio – Another day of action resulted in more success for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team, as the Golden Eagles picked up their second win of the season as part of a 1-1 final day of action at the Cincy Clash in Loveland, Ohio.
The purple and gold (2-2) topped Liberty in the opening match of the day, securing a 3-2 win at the Grands Sands facility. Tournament host Eastern Kentucky topped the Cookeville crew later in the day, 4-1, to close the season-opening event.
In Tech's victory over the Flames, the No. 1 duo of Brooke Amann and Bella Powell took care of business in straight sets, topping their Colonel counterparts with victories of 21-14 and 21-10. Liberty claimed the win at the No. 2 position, but the Golden Eagles No. 3 pairing of Aleeya Jones and MK Roberts righted the ship with a comeback win.
The two Tech veterans bounced back from a 21-19 loss in the opening set to square things with a 21-19 win over their own. Amanna and Powell completed the comeback with a strong, 15-9 decision in the third and decisive set.
The Flames earned their own three-set win in the No. 4 slot, but Tech's No. 5 grouping was up to the test. Ava Schubert and Jazmine Yamilkoski won a back-and-forth affair, learning a 21-18 victory in set one before falling in the second game, 21-18. The purple and gold pairing dug deep in set three, edging their Liberty foes with a 15-13 decision for the huge win.
In the second match of the day, Eastern Kentucky picked up straight-set wins in four positions, but the Golden Eagles refused to go down without a fight. Roberts and Jones battled in a three-set war, opening their thrilling affair with a 22-20 win.
The Flames answered back with a tight, 21-19 victory in the second set, but Tech's veterans were up to the task. Needing more than the regulation 15 points to close things out, Roberts and Jones eked out a 16-14 win to stay undefeated on the day and earn the Golden Eagles a point.
Next on the docket for the Cookeville crew is a trip to Atlanta, Ga. and a wild day of action at the Georgia State Day of Duals on Wednesday, Mar. 5. Tech will compete in three tilts on the day, starting with an 11:30 a.m. CT match-up with the College of the Charleston. At 1:30 p.m., the Golden Eagles will square off with another Golden Eagle squad in Southern Miss before closing the event with a 5:30 p.m. affair against host Georgia State.
File photo by Jim Dillon
