By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MARTIN, Tenn. – An inspired comeback lifted the Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team to its first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season on Saturday, as the Golden Eagles split the final day of the league's first competitive weekend in Martin, Tenn.
Competing at the Skyhawk Beach Volleyball Complex, the purple and gold (3-8, 1-3) opened the day with a thrilling, 3-2 victory over Eastern Illinois (0-4, 0-4). Host and in-state rival UT Martin (12-6, 3-1) topped the Golden Eagles in the final dual of the weekend, 4-1.
It was a tough start to the day for the Cookeville crew, as the Panthers opened the match-up with back-to-back 2-0 wins in the Nos. 4 and 5 positions. Facing a 2-0 deficit, the Golden Eagles went to work, climbing the comeback mountain.
The senior/sophomore combo of Aleeya Jones and MK Roberts got things started, delivering a straight-sets win behind scores of 21-18 and 21-15 in the No. 3 slot. Keeping hope alive and tying the match at 2-2, redshirt sophomore Jordan Karlen and senior Brooke Amann teamed up for a comeback win of their own.
After dropping the opening set, 21-11, the No. 2 Tech tandem answered back with a dominant 21-14 win to force a third and decisive set. Karlen and Amann passed the torch to the No. 1 Golden Eagle duo to finish things off, securing a 15-7 win to snap the 1-1 tie.
Senior Bella Powell and freshman Alayna Pierce completed the rally for the Cookeville crew at the top spot, delivering back-to-back wins of 21-17 to lock down the team's first league win of the year.
The No. 1 Tech duo provided the highlight for the purple and gold in the second match of the day, securing an impressive 2-0 victory over the Skyhawks' top pairing of Riley Rushing and Dylan Sulcer with the Golden Eagles trailing 2-0 in the match. Powell and Pierce cruised to a 21-14 win in set one before gutting out a 22-20 victory in the second set to keep the match alive for the Golden Eagles.
The host Skyhawks turned in four wins in straight sets in the other four pairings, earning their third league win of the weekend in the process.
Next weekend, the Golden Eagles will make their return to Cookeville for their lone home weekend of the season, playing host to league foe Morehead State in a pair of duals on Friday, Mar. 28 and Saturday, Mar. 29. Friday's affair will begin at 3:00 p.m. CT at the Tech Beach Volleyball Courts while Saturday's contest will kick off at 11:00 a.m.
File photo by UT Martin Athletics
