By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
GREENSBORO, N.C. – In true, bounce-back spirit, the Tennessee Tech volleyball team got back to its winning ways Saturday morning, completing the most successful non-conference slate in program history with a 3-1 victory over Georgetown to close out the Greensboro Invitational.
After falling to Marshall for their first loss of the 2024 campaign on Friday, the Golden Eagles (11-1) shook off the minor bump in the road to deliver another clutch win at Fleming Gymnasium. A bludgeoning attack from the purple and gold helped overcome 14.0 blocks by the Hoyas in the match, with Tech accumulating 64 kills to just 46 for Georgetown.
It was a battle early in the opening set of the day, as neither side took larger than a two-point lead until Tech snapped a 17-17 tie with an 8-2 run for a 25-19 victory. The Cookeville crew came out swinging, piling up 17 terminations with four of its five errors occurring on blocks.
Georgetown responded with a right cross, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the second set and eventually rolling to a 25-14 win. The Hoyas forced the Golden Eagles into 10 attack errors, rejecting 5.0 attempts from the purple and gold.
Set three saw Tech take control with a 3-2 lead and then hold off a late rally attempt from Georgetown, topping the Hoyas, 25-22, behind 17 more kills and just four errors. The Golden Eagles staved off another comeback bid by the Hoyas in set four as well.
Trailing the Cookeville crew 22-19, Georgetown crept out front with set point at 24-23, prompting Tech's second timeout of the set. The Golden Eagle regrouped and responded with two kills and an attack error from the Hoyas to triumph 26-24 for the win.
The purple and gold amassed a whopping 21 terminations in the fourth set, smashing .381 as a unit.
Having a field day were the Tech outside hitter, combining for 53 of the team's 64 kills. Leading the way with the best performance of her young career to date was rookie Alayna Pierce, who crushed a season-high 20 kills while hitting an impressive .310. She also contributed seven digs, an ace, and one block assist.
Senior outside Madolyn Isringhausen also accounted for 20 terminations, chipping in seven digs and another ace of her own. Over the weekend, the Edwardsville, Ill. native pushed past Katrina Hendrix (1982-85) and tied Bilyana Triko (1986-89) in program history with 136 career service aces. She also cracked the top-10 in career points, skipping up to eighth past Cody Dodd (2012-15), Taylor Dorsey (2018-22), and Anne Morrow (2002-05).
Fellow senior Bella Powell chalked up 10 more kills of her own while hitting .304 from the right side. Freshman middle blocker Mallory Jenkins was efficient with her opportunities throughout the day, racking up 10 kills on a .368 attack and leading the team with three block assists.
Doling out a season-high 53 assists in the match, junior setter Jordan Karlen just missed a double-double with nine digs. Defensive specialist Aleeya Jones provided 12 digs to the effort.
Exploding for a special performance on the defensive side of things, senior McKenna Young compiled the second-largest total of digs in her career with 29. It marked the most by the Murfreesboro native in a four-set match and the highest total since her career-high mark of 34 in a five-set win at Murray State during her freshman campaign in the spring of 2020-21.
Tech officially kicks off Ohio Valley Conference action next weekend, opening league play with a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt at Tennessee State on Friday, Sept. 27. The Golden Eagles then return home to host Morehead State on Saturday, Sept. 28 in a 4:00 p.m. affair in the Hooper Eblen Center.
File photo by Jim Dillon
