By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two weekends into the 2024 campaign, the Tennessee Tech volleyball team remained unbeaten following a 3-0 sweep over Delaware State Saturday afternoon that lifted the purple and gold to the Charlotte Invitational crown.
The Golden Eagles (6-0) captured their second tournament title in as many weeks while also securing their fifth sweep of the year. Tech's 6-0 start to the year represents the best since the team opened the 1983 season with a 7-0 mark.
The offense was once again a bright spot for the Cookeville crew, who used superior results from the attack to make quick work of the Hornets (1-5). Tech collected a 41-24 advantage in kills and hit .238 compared to .044 for Delaware State.
It took some time for the purple and gold to find its footing in the first set, as the Hornets made it challenging the whole way. The Golden Eagles seemed to find some room with a 23-19 lead, but the closed the gap to just a single point at match point before Tech outside hitter Alayna Pierce turned in the set-winning kill.
Set two was smooth for the Cookeville crew, building a quick 10-point lead and keeping the distance on the way to a 25-16 victory. DSU made things interesting with a 15-15 tie in the third set, but the Golden Eagles found their stride and ended the match with a 10-3 run for a 25-18 win.
Pierce was the start of the day for Tech, leading the match with a season-high 13 kills while hitting an impressive .444. She chipped in two block solos and four digs as well.
Senior outside hitter Madolyn Isringhausen secured MVP honors of the Charlotte Invitational, her second MVP nod in as many events, tallying 10 kills two more aces, and five digs. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team, fellow senior outside Bella Powell tacked on 10 kills while smashing .412.
Also earning a place on the All-Tournament Team, senior libero McKenna Young racked up a match-high 17 digs to go along with six assists and an ace. The Murfreesboro, Tenn. native moved into a tie for ninth on Tech's career charts for service aces with Dee Dee Malone (1988-90), boasting 117 so far.
Junior setter Jordan Karlen continued her hot start to the season with another 31 assists, chipping in five digs for good measure.
Tech returns home for its annual Golden Eagle Invitational presented by Holiday Inn of Cookeville, running Friday, Sept. 13 through Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Hooper Eblen Center. After squaring off with Nicholls in a 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Tech will return to the court for a 7:00 p.m. appointment with West Georgia. The weekend concludes as the Golden Eagles host Radford in a 2:00 p.m. match.
File photo by Jim Dillon
