By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech volleyball team returns to the comfort of the Hooper Eblen Center for another Ohio Valley Conference test against an undefeated foe. The Golden Eagles host Morehead State in a pair of league tilts, starting at 7:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, Mar. 7.
Match two is slated for a 5:00 p.m. start on Monday, Mar. 8. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+ with Dylan Vazznao on the call.
THE MATCHUPS
Sunday, March 7 – vs. Morehead State, 7 p.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
Monday, March 8 – vs. Morehead State, 5 p.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
TEAM NOTES
Tech (4-4, 4-4) enters the weekend after a two-game stretch on the road last week, falling in a pair of matches at undefeated Jacksonville State (8-0, 8-0). The purple and gold fell to the Gamecocks in the first match, 3-0 (25-9, 25-17, 29-27), gaining momentum in the final set. The Golden Eagles claimed a set in match two, but ultimately fell, 3-1 (25-17, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21).
Redshirt sophomore Madeline Furtado paced the Golden Eagle offense in both contests, leading her team with 11 kills and three service aces and a .233 hitting percentage in the first. She followed it up with a career-high 12 kills in match two, hitting .286 with five digs and a solo block.
On the year, it's been Preseason All-OVC selection Ali Verzani leading the Golden Eagles offensively, registering a team-highs of 77 kills, 14 service aces and 100.5 points. She's added 600 digs (second on the team) and 14 total blocks to the mix as well.
Defensively, middle blockers Taylor Dorsey (another Preseason All-OVC pick) and Skylar Boom have led the charge, racking up 33 and 29 blocks, respectively. Dorsey, who ranks second in the OVC with 1.22 block per set, has also produced 52 kills while Boom has added 57 kills.
Furtado ranks second for Tech with 58 kills on the year while chipping in nine aces and 49 digs. Freshman libero McKenna Young boasts a team-high 106 digs on the year while junior setter Ashley Hands has delivered 255 assists.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
(2020-21 record: 8-0, 8-0 OVC | Series Record: 20-71 | H: 10-30 | A: 7-34 | N: 3-7)
Morehead State represents the league's second undefeated squad, tied with Jacksonville State for the top spot in the OVC. Last weekend, the Eagles claimed a pair of home victories over Tennessee State, winning 3-1 (25-22, 25-16, 16-25, 25-6) and 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-11).
The Eagles are led by a trio of Preseason All-OVC players, including seniors Olivia Lohmeier and Lauren Rokey, as well as sophomore Bridget Bessler. Leading the team and ranked second in the OVC in kills, Lohmeier has racked up 115 on the year with Rokey not far behind with 92.
Lohmeier has also produced nine aces, 29 digs and 21 blocks while compiling an OVC-leading 136.0 points. Bessler, the league's runner-up in assists so far this season, has a team-high 296 on the year, averaging 11.38.
The league's leader in blocks per set also hails from Morehead, with McKenzee Wagener pacing the OVC with 1.23 per set and 27.0 total on the year. Right behind her in total blocks is Mia Swearingen, who has totaled 26.
Allison Whitten represents the team's digs leader, totaling 113 so far on the year.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles hit the road for two straight weeks, beginning with a pair of matches at in-state foe Tennessee State. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, Mar. 14 and for 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 15. Tech then makes a visit to Murray State Sunday, Mar. 21 through Monday, Mar. 22, with match times slated for 6:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.
Photo by Jim Dillon
