By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – After earning their first trip to the OVC Tournament since the 2015 season, the Tennessee Tech volleyball team was recognized with pair of All-OVC honors, announced by the league office on Wednesday. Junior outside hitter Ali Verzani was named All-OVC first team honors and sophomore middle blocker Taylor Dorsey was named to the All-OVC second team.

Verzani, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, earned her first-ever All-OVC first team honor and the first for a Golden Eagle since Cody Dodd in 2015. Verzani was the Golden Eagles leading offensive threat this season as she led the team in kills (382-3^rd in OVC), kills per set (3.60-4^th in OVC), total points (441-3^rd in OVC), points per set (4.16-3^rd in OVC), total attacks (1180-4^th in OVC), and double-doubles (16). Verzani also finished second for Tech in digs (293) and digs per set (2.76). Verzani recorded a double-double in 10 of 16 OVC matches and recorded 10 or more kills in 20 matches this season.

Dorsey, from Birmingham, Alabama, was also recognized with her first-ever All-OVC second team honor. The sophomore middle blocker led the Golden Eagles in total blocks (118-2^nd in OVC), and blocks per set (1.12-2^nd in OVC). In addition, Dorsey was second on the Golden Eagles in total kills (290), kills per set (2.76), and total points (367.5).  She posted five or more blocks in 10 matches this season, which included 11 in the season finale against Belmont and tied for 2^nd in a four-set match in school history. Dorsey was also named OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on November 18, the first OVC weekly honor of her career.

The Golden Eagles open up the OVC Championship on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 12:30 p.m. against No. 2-seed Southeast Missouri on ESPN+.

All-OVC First Team
Rachel Giustino, Murray State
Olivia Lohmeier, Morehead State
Lexie Libs, Jacksonville State
Lena Kindermann, Jacksonville State
Ali Verzani, Tennessee Tech
Ginny Gerig Busse, Austin Peay
Rachel Holthaus, Murray State
Lauren Rockey, Morehead State
Bridget Bessler, Morehead State
Abby Noll, Eastern Kentucky
Kaylee Frear, Jacksonville State
Maggie Adams, Southeast Missouri
Becca Fernandez, Murray State
Laney Malloy, Southeast Missouri

All-OVC Second Team
Gintare Mackeviciute, UT Martin
Claire Ochs, Southeast Missouri
Taylor Dorsey, Tennessee Tech
Rachel McDonald, SIUE
Tara Beilsmith, Southeast Missouri
Logan Wallick, UT Martin
Brooke Moore, Austin Peay

OVC Player of the Year: Rachel Giustino, Murray State
OVC Freshman of the Year: Bridget Bessler, Morehead State
OVC Defensive Player of the Year: Ginny Gerig Busse, Austin Peay
OVC Setter of the Year: Lexie Libs, Jacksonville State
OVC Coach of the Year: Todd Garvey, Jacksonville State

Photo by Thomas Corhern