By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech volleyball team will kick off the 2020-21 campaign Sunday afternoon, participating in an abbreviated, 16-match, Ohio Valley Conference season. The Golden Eagles open play at in-state rival Austin Peay, playing a pair of matches in Clarksville on Feb. 7 and 8.
Last season, the Golden Eagles earned a postseason bid into the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2015 on the power of a 9-7 record in league play. Overall, the team finished 13-17, including a solid showing at home of 7-4. In OVC play, Tech was 4-4 on the road.
THE MATCHUPS
Sunday, February 7 – at Austin Peay, 2 p.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
Monday, February 8 – at Austin Peay, 2 p.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
TEAM NOTES
Fresh of the program's first OVC Tournament appearance since 2015, head coach Jeannette Waldo's squad looks poised to make it back-to-back trips to the league's postseason event. Tech will also look for its first OVC Tournament victory since 2014.
Back for her senior campaign, outside hitter Ali Verzani enters the 2020-21 season fresh off an All-OVC First Team honor. Named to the Preseason All-OVC Team, the Sioux City, Iowa native led the Golden Eagles 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).
Dorsey 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).
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.
SCOUTING THE GOVERNORS
(2020-21 record: 0-0, 0-0 OVC | Series Record: 51-38 | H: 29-13 | A: 13-23 | N: 9-2)
Last season, Austin Peay tallied an 11-20 overall record with a 9-7 finish in OVC play, tying for fifth with the Golden Eagles. The Govs were given an early exit from the league's tournament, falling to Morehead State, 3-1.
Senior Brooke Moore leads the Govs into the season, earning a place on the Preseason All-OVC Team after leading her team with 313 kills and 349.5 points a year ago. She also tied for the team lead with 21 service aces and was second on the squad with 303 digs.
Junior Karli Graham returns as the team's top middle blocker, racking up 70 total blocks in 2019, as well as 129 kills. Caroline Waite and Kelsey Mead both return for the Govs as well, splitting roles as the team's setters. Waite tallied 533 assists while Mead turned in 424.
Tech earned a 3-1 victory over the Govs in last season's tilt in Cookeville and have a healthy, 51-38 lead in the all-time series.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will return to Cookeville for their home-opening pair of matches next Sunday and Monday, playing host to Eastern Illinois at 7:00 p.m. CT on Feb. 14 and 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 15.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
