By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Following an inspired performance for the Tennessee Tech volleyball team over the weekend, freshman Jillian Shaneyfelt collected the first honor of her collegiate career, earning co-Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week accolades as announced by the league Monday afternoon. She shared the honor with Southeast Missouri freshman outside hitter Lucy Arndt.

A libero and defensive specialist for the Golden Eagles, the rookie was forced to call upon her experience as a setter in high school for the purple and gold last weekend. With Tech down two setters due to injury, including the league's reigning Setter of the Year in Jordan Karlen, Shaneyfelt stepped into the role and wowed the crowd in the Eblen Center with a pair of strong performances. 

Opening up OVC play against the league's reigning tournament champions, Tennessee State, Shaneyfelt kicked things off with a whopping 51 assists in the team's five-set loss on Friday. The Pinckneyville, Ill. native also registered 16 digs for her first career double-double and assisted on a block.

In the second match of the week, she distributed 45 helpers in another five-set heartbreaker. Shaneyfelt led the purple and gold with 15 digs on Saturday, posting her second double-double of the weekend while adding another block assist and her first collegiate kill.

For the weekend, the freshman averaged an impressive 9.60 assists and 3.10 digs.

Tech takes its first OVC road trip of the season this weekend, making the long hall to Arkansas for a pair of match-ups with Little Rock. The weekend will kick off with a 6:00 p.m. affair on Friday, Sept. 29 and end with a 2:00 p.m. contest on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Photo by Jim Dillon