By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech volleyball team will kick off the 2024 campaign with its first of four tournaments to tune up for the Ohio Valley Conference season, making a trip west to Memphis for the Carrie Yerty Classic.
Slated from Friday, Aug. 30 to Saturday, Aug. 31, the purple and gold will square off with in-state rival Austin Peay at 10:00 a.m. CT Friday morning to officially open the 2024 season. The Golden Eagles will take on the host Tigers later in the evening with a 7:00 p.m. affair before wrapping up the opening weekend of action with a 10:00 p.m. tilt against Mississippi Valley State on Saturday.
Tech's match-up with Memphis will be streamed on ESPN+ while the other two Golden Eagle matches will feature live stats only.
THE MATCHUPS
Friday, August 30 – vs. Austin Peay, 10:00 a.m. | Live Stats
Friday, August 30 – at Memphis, 7:00 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday, August 31 – vs. Mississippi Valley State, 10:30 a.m. | Live Stats
Wide Open
If the Ohio Valley Conference's preseason poll was any indication, the 2024 volleyball campaign will feature a wide-open race at the top of the league. Just 15 points separated Tennessee Tech (No. 4 in the OVC Predicted Team Order of Finish) and the top vote-getter, Southeast Missouri. Eastern Illinois was second by just a single vote while Morehead State fell just three tallies shy of the Panthers. SEMO picked up six first-place votes, EIU and Morehead each secured five, and the Golden Eagles locked down four.
Preseason Honors
A trio of Golden Eagles picked up recognition during the OVC's annual preseason release, led by junior setter Jordan Karlen and senior outside hitter Madolyn Isringhausen earning spots on the Preseason All-OVC Team. Additionally, freshman middle blocker Mallory Jenkins was named as the Golden Eagles' OVC Player to Watch for the season.
Setting Things Up
Back for her junior season, Jordan Karlen will look to build off a pair of highly impressive first two years in the purple and gold while quarterbacking the team's offense. Despite battling through injury during the 2023 campaign, the veteran still captured All-OVC Second Team honors while ranking in the OVC with 10.07 assists per set and fourth with 1,098 total helpers.
Playing Outside
With her fifth and final year in a Golden Eagle uniform in front of her, Madolyn Isringhausen will to guide Tech to its first OVC crown since 2008 while continuing to climb the program's all-time charts. After securing her second straight All-OVC First Team nod last year, the Edwardsville, Ill. native heads into the season ranked in the top-10 in school history in points per set, kills per set, service aces per set, and service aces.
Floor General
Senior libero McKenna Young also returns for her fifth and final season in the purple and gold, looking to extend her legacy as one of the best defensive specialists to pass through Cookeville. Already ranked fourth in school history in total digs, the wiley veteran has her sights set on an OVC title and her first recognition from the league.
Up Next
The purple and gold heads out to the east for the Charlotte Invitational, running Friday, Sept. 6 through Saturday, Sept. 7 at Charlotte. After squaring off with the 49ers in a 9:00 a.m. opener on Friday, Tech will return to the court for a 3:30 p.m. appointment with Towson. The weekend concludes for the Golden Eagles on Saturday morning with a 9:00 match versus Delaware State.
Photo by Jim Dillon
