By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – A trio of stars from the Tennessee Tech volleyball team was recognized for their playing prowess over the weekend by the Ohio Valley Conference Monday afternoon, with outside hitters Madolyn Isringhausen and Alayna Pierce and setter Jordan Karlen each honored for their part in the Golden Eagles' 2-0 week.
The OVC named Isringhausen Offensive Player of the Week, Karlen co-Setter of the Week, and Pierce Freshman of the Week after leading the purple and gold to a pair of victories over Western Illinois to move the team to 4-0 in league play this season. Karlen shared Setter of the Week honors with Lindenwood's Jessie Seidel.
Isringhausen continued her torrid pace on offense while earning her fourth league honor of the year and her career, averaging 5.13 kills over eight sets. The senior delivered an impressive 16 strikes in the team's 3-0 sweep of WIU on Thursday, including a whopping nine in the third set alone.
She also tallied 14 digs for a double-double with one service ace. In Friday's five-set thriller, the Tech outside played her role as the team's top weapon, tying her career-high with 25 kills on a .309 attack. Isringhausen tacked on another ace and 15 digs for another double-double for good measure.
Karlen fed a Golden Eagle offense that reached plateaus unseen by a Tech squad in more than a decade to earn her third OVC accolade of the year and ninth of her career, averaging 12.88 assists and 3.13 digs over eight sets of action. The junior kicked off the week with 40 helpers in the team's 3-0 sweep of Western Illinois, adding one block and 12 digs to pick up a double-double.
The Janesville, Wis. native went off in the five-set thriller on Sunday, tying for the fourth most assists in a five-set match in the rally-scoring era in Tech history with an eye-popping 63. She also dropped in a career-high five service aces, earned her ninth double-double of the year with 13 digs, and chipped in three block assists. Tech accounted for 74 kills in the match, the most by the team since crushing 75 against Murray State in the OVC Tournament Championship match in 2008.
Pierce continued to show immense growth for the Golden Eagles while picking up her second straight Freshman of the Week nod. In the team's 3-0 sweep on Thursday, the rookie cooked up 15 terminations, eight digs, an ace, and two solo blocks to help the effort.
She upped the ante in Friday's five-set triumph, recording a career-high 21 kills to go along with 15 digs for her third career double-double. The Genoa, Ill. native also made three solo rejections on three straight plays, leading to a trio of critical Tech points in the match.
Tech opens a four-game road stretch this week, heading west to St. Charles, Mo. for a pair of league tests with Lindenwood. The Golden Eagles and Lions will square off Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6:00 p.m. CT before finishing the week on Friday, Oct. 11 with another 6:00 p.m. affair.
Photos by Jim Dillon
