THE MATCHUPS
Friday, November 15 -- Tennessee State, 7 p.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
Saturday, November 16 -- Belmont, 2 p.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tech volleyball closes out the regular season this weekend as they host the Tennessee State Tigers on Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16.
The Golden Eagles went 1-1 this past weekend, falling in a four-set affair against Morehead State before closing the weekend with a sweep of the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.
In addition to Friday and Saturday's matches, representing the final two regular-season home contests of the year, Tech will also honor its three seniors with Senior Day festivities Saturday. The Golden Eagles will honor senior outside hitters Emily Brooks and Abigail Duncan, and senior middle blocker Rachel Thomas prior to Saturday's match against Belmont.
TEAM NOTES
- Ashley Hand had a career weekend as she surpassed the career 1,000 assist mark, earning her first career Ohio Valley Conference weekly honor as well, being named OVC Setter of the Week.
- Hand helped Tech to produce an impressive .273 hitting percentage on the weekend across their two contests. She led the Golden Eagles to a .236 hitting clip, besting the Morehead State Eagles hitting performance as she dished out 46 assists in the contest. Her 46-assist, 10-dig performance marked her 13th double-double of the season. She closed out the weekend with another impressive outing as she led the Golden Eagles to a .310 hitting percentage against the Colonels, collecting a match-high 41 assists, narrowly missing a double-double with nine digs, and a trio of kills.
- Taylor Dorsey led the Golden Eagles offensively in their match against Morehead State as she tallied a team-high 17 kills and produced a match-high .387 hitting percentage. She added three blocks as well in the contest. She then followed it up with an absolutely killer performance in Tech's sweep of EKU, hitting .542 and collecting 13 kills, three blocks (one solo), and an assist.
- Carly Skrabak had a phenomenal week anchoring the Golden Eagles back row. She tallied a match-high 34 digs in Tech's contest against the Eagles. She closed out the weekend with nine digs, two service aces, and a pair of assists against the Colonels.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
2019 Record: 12-15, 5-9 OVC | Series Record: 14-16
Tennessee State is currently on a three-game winning streak after having earned a pair of sweeps over Eastern Kentucky and Belmont, before defeating Eastern Illinois in four
Julia Pierson has been the Tigers best offensive weapon this season as she has tallied a team-high 257 kills. Gina Rivera Ortiz has anchored Tennessee State's back row this season, averaging 4.85 digs per set, while Aria Holmes has controlled the Tigers defensive unit upfront with a team-high 96 blocks this season.
The Tigers hold the all-time series lead over the Golden Eagles, 14-16. In their last meeting earlier this season, Tech earned a straight-set victory in Nashville at Kean Hall on Saturday, October 12.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
2019 Record: 2-27, 1-13 OVC *record as of 11/14/19 | Series Record: 45-18
The Bruins are 2-27 on the season and 1-13 in league play. Belmont has secured wins against Alabama A&M and Eastern Illinois this season, both of which came in a straight-set sweep.
Halee Van Poppel has led the Bruins offensively this season, averaging 3.17 kills per set. A setting duo between Akia Warrior and Carly Mason has led the Bruins to a .165 hitting clip this season as a team. Warrior leads the team with 525 assists per set this season, while Mason has collected 431. Defensively, Kailee Bass leads Belmont with a team-high 68 blocks this season. The back row for the Bruins has been a team effort as seven players have recorded triple-digit digs this season with Van Poppel and Peyton Kelley leading the way with 245 and 244 digs, respectively.
The Golden Eagles hold the all-time series lead over Belmont, 45-18. Earlier this season, Tech earned a road victory over the Bruins in a straight-set sweep on Friday, October 11 at the Curb Event Center in Nashville.
