By: Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
Another opportunity for growth brings head coach Dave Zelenock's youthful Tennessee Tech volleyball team to Memphis, Tenn. for the Memphis Invitational. In the two-day tournament, the Golden Eagles will face opponents of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Little Rock, host Memphis, and Auburn. Here's a closer look at the Golden Eagles opponents this weekend:
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
The Golden Lions (0-6), a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, are led by head coach Dustin Sahlmann. In 2014, Pine Bluff went 12-20 in overall play and acquired a 7-3 conference record. The Golden Lions are led by Alexis Smith, a junior from Bellville, Ill., and Kayla Dowdell, a senior from Jonesboro, Ga.
Little Rock
The Trojans (2-4) are members of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC). Returning for her 28th season as the head coach, Van Compton has led the Trojans to four regular season SBC championships, five tournament championships, and five appearances in the NCAA tournament. Last year Little Rock acquired a 30-5 overall while capturing a perfect conference season finishing the season with a 20-0 record. The Trojans are led by juniors Megan Mathis and Edina Selimovic. In 2014, Mathis was named a Sun Belt Setter of the Week on three different occasions, as well as was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team after she compiled 107 assists (11.8 per set) in the SBC Tournament. Mathis' 1,277 assists for the season were the seventh-most in a program history and fifth-most in the Southern. Selimovic was named to the 2015 Preseason All-Sun Belt Team as well as named to the Bluegrass Invitational All-Tournament Team this year. In 2014, Selimovic had the most service aces in the SBC with 55, and averaged .45 per set. She also totaled the most blocks in the SBC with 174 and recorded the fourth-highest hitting percentage in the SBC at .321.
Memphis
A member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC), the Tigers (4-2) are led by head coach April Jauregui who returns for her sixth season at the helm of the volleyball program. In 2014, Memphis acquired a 23-11 overall record while posting a 13-7 conference record. Leading the way for the Tigers is sophomore, Oluchi Agomuo. During her 2014, freshman season, Agomuo tallied 335 kills, ranked tied for fourth in the freshman single season record book. She had five-straight matches with double-digit kills and posted 302 digs on the season. Another Memphis player to watch is junior, Catlin Lilly. In 2014, Lilly was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team. Lilly served as a key player for the Tigers. She was a 93.1 percent passer on 475 total serve-receives taken. Lilly's 259 kills ranked her third on the team, and her .357 hitting percentage was a season-high.
Auburn
The Tigers (4-2) are a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Auburn is led by head coach Rick Nold who begins his fifth season at the tiller of the volleyball program. Last season, the Tigers compiled a 13-18 overall record, while posting a 5-13 conference record. Auburn's players to watch are junior Stephanie Campbell. Campbell was named to the 2014 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team as well as to the 2014 SEC Academic Honor Roll. She led the team in hitting percentage (.279) and finished second on the team in kills with 303. Campbell finished the season gathering 86 blocks and recorded double-digit kills in a team-high 18 matches, including 11 times during SEC play.
Golden Eagles
The Tech volleyball team opened their 2015 season by participating in two tournaments, the Wright State Invitational and the Tennessee Volleyball Invitational. Alyssa Povey was named to the Wright State All-Tournament team, while teammate Cody Dodd was named to the Tennessee Volleyball Invitational All-Tournament team. A team comprised of numerous young faces has done a lot of growing throughout early season play.
The Golden Eagles have already shown strides in developing their game play as well as have become more comfortable playing with one another while working on their consistency in game.
Senior, Cody Dodd has been leading the way for her underclassmen counterparts. Already totaling 101.5 points for the Golden Eagle team and acquiring 84 kills with a .181 attacking percentage, Dodd has continuously served as a role model on the court for the Tech team. Also paving the way is sophomore Kellie Williams. Williams has tallied 63 kills, a .126 hitting percentage, nine blocks, and totaled 68.5 points on behalf of the Golden Eagles.
Tech begins tournament play on Friday when they face off against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a 10 a.m. contest, followed by a 4 p.m. matchup against Little Rock. Then on Saturday, the Golden Eagles will close out tournament play facing host Memphis at noon and then rounding out the day with a 4 p.m. match versus Auburn.
