By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Ohio Valley Conference officially released its preseason predicted order of finish and the Preseason All-OVC Team Wednesday morning, with a pair of Tennessee Tech volleyball players recognized for their talents heading into the 2020-21 campaign.
Fresh off earning a spot on the All-OVC First Team a season ago, senior outside hitter Ali Verzani earned one of the Golden Eagles' two nods on the Preseason All-OVC Team. A native of Sioux City, Iowa, she was the first Tech player to claim All-OVC First Team honors since Cody Dodd in 2015 after leading the Golden Eagles in kills (395), kills per set (3.59), total points (455.0), points per set (4.14), total attacks (1,221), service aces (33) and double-doubles (17).
Verzani ranked second on the team in digs (313) and digs per set (2.85) and posted 10 or more kills in 21 matches on the year. In the OVC, she finished among the league's best, ranking fifth in kills, fourth in kills per set, fourth in points, third in points per set, and sixth in service aces per set.
Also recognized on the Preseason All-OVC Team was junior middle blocker Taylor Dorsey, who capped off her sophomore campaign with an All-OVC Second Team honor. In her second season in the purple and gold, Dorsey led her team in total blocks (121) and blocks per set (1.11) while ranking second in kills (307), kills per set (2.82) and total points (387.0). She managed five or more blocks in 10 matches on the year and picked up an OVC Defensive Player of the Week accolade during the season.
Dorsey's was also one of the top performers in the league, ranking second in blocks per set, third in total blocks, sixth in points per set, eighth in points and 10th in hitting percentage (.269).
"It is so great to have Ali Verzani and Taylor Dorsey recognized by their fellow OVC members in this way," Tech head coach Jeannette Waldo said. "We appreciate what they bring to the gym every time they step onto the floor and it's always nice to see other teams respecting their abilities as much as we do. Both of these young ladies are workhorses and are always prepared to put their team first, so they really embody 'team' on a daily basis. This season should be another exciting one for Ali and Taylor as they both had dynamic semesters in the fall in preparation for this year."
Returning at setter after a breakout sophomore campaign is Ashley Hand, who ranked fourth in the OVC in assists per set (10.01) and fourth in total assists (1,111). The junior recorded 84 kills during the 2019 campaign, accounting for 128.5 points. She racked up 43 total blocks, 277 digs and 20 service aces as well.
"The OVC is packed with talent, but I believe we will take a lot of our opponents by surprise," Waldo expressed. "Gaining an additional semester for our players to prepare for this season allowed us to develop in a way we wouldn't have if we had walked into our competition season back in the fall. We are going to turn some heads with the pieces that we are putting together. Our depth will allow us to have more options than ever before. Each member of our team must show up and earn their position each day because of the heat coming up from behind them, and that will create an exciting atmosphere in which to compete. Look out, OVC…we've been waiting for this time to come and we're itching to play."
The Golden Eagles will officially kick off the 2020-21 season on Sunday, Feb. 7 with the first of back-to-back matches at Austin Peay. Tech will follow it up with a Monday tilt in Clarksville against the Govs before returning to Cookeville for the home opener on Sunday, Feb. 14 against Eastern Illinois.
2020-21 Preseason All-OVC Volleyball Team
(as Selected by OVC Head Volleyball Coaches and Sports Information Directors)
Maggie Adams, Southeast Missouri
Tara Beilsmith, Southeast Missouri
Bridget Bessler, Morehead State
Taylor Dorsey, Tennessee Tech
Becca Fernandez, Murray State
Lena Kindermann, Jacksonville State
Lexie Libs, Jacksonville State
Olivia Lohmeier, Morehead State
Laney Malloy, Southeast Missouri
Brooke Moore, Austin Peay
Claire Ochs, Southeast Missouri
Lauren Rokey, Morehead State
Ali Verzani, Tennessee Tech
Logan Wallick, UT Martin
2020-21 OVC Volleyball Predicted Team Order of Finish
(as Selected by OVC Head Volleyball Coaches and Sports Information Directors)
1. Southeast Missouri (10 first-place votes)- 222
2. Jacksonville State (Five first-place votes) - 216
3. Morehead State (Seven first-place votes) - 214
4. Murray State (Two first-place votes) - 180
5. Austin Peay - 160
6. SIUE - 137
t7. Tennessee Tech - 123
t7. UT Martin - 123
9. Tennessee State - 77
10. Eastern Kentucky - 53
11. Belmont - 48
12. Eastern Illinois - 31
(*Schools were not allowed to rank their own team. 11 points awarded for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)
Photos by Jim Dillon
