By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
ATLANTA, Ga. – It was a day of learning for the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team, as the Golden Eagles finished its first-ever three-match day while competing at Georgia State's Day of Duals in Atlanta on Wednesday.
The purple and gold (2-5) fell in each of its three tilts during the marathon of a day, starting with a 5-0 decision to the College of Charleston (4-4). Tech's No. 3 pairing of Aleeya Jones and MK Roberts just missed out on claiming a point for the Cookeville crew, falling in a three-set battle.
After dropping a 21-13 decision to open the dual, the Tech tandem answered with a 21-18 win to force a third set. Charleston's Alexa Psotka and Kora Hansen just edged Jones/Roberts, eking out a 16-14 win.
Having to bounce back immediately and compete again against Southern Miss (4-8), the Cookeville crew fell to its fellow Golden Eagles 5-0. While USM collected straight-sets wins in all five pairings, the No. 3 duo of Jones and Roberts took each battle to the edge again. The two fought to the bitter end in a pair of 21-18 decisions.
Taking on host Georgia State (6-5) in their third match of the day, the Golden Eagles couldn't stop the Panthers on their home sand, dropping a 5-0 battle to conclude action in Atlanta. Once again, Jones/Roberts turned in the closest battles of the contest, falling in back-to-back sets by brutally close scores of 21-17 and 21-19.
Next on tap for the Golden Eagles is the first Ohio Valley Conference weekend of competition, hosted by UT Martin on Friday, Mar. 21 and Saturday, Mar. 22. Tech will square off with Lindenwood, Chattanooga, Eastern Illinois, and UT Martin in the first of two weekends of league, round-robin-style action.
File photo by Jim Dillon
