By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech volleyball team ended its 2024 home slate in style Friday evening, completing its second straight, 3-0 sweep over Southern Indiana in the team's final match in the Hooper Eblen Center this season.
Yet another spectacular offensive showing helped back up a pair of impressive milestones for members of the program, with the Golden Eagles (21-7, 10-6) piling up 48 kills and eight service aces while hitting .228. Southern Indiana (8-20, 3-13) improved its own offensive attack from Thursday's tilt, totaling 37 terminations, but Tech limited the Screaming Eagles to just .183 efficiency.
The purple and gold controlled nearly the entire opening set of the match, totaling 17 kills on its way to a 25-20 victory. Set two was much more back-and-forth, with the Cookeville crew trailing as late as 15-14.
Tech quickly recovered, ending the set on an 11-5 run for another 25-20 win. The Golden Eagles overcame 10 attack errors in the game, balancing it out with 16 more terminations. Another 15 kills in set three proved enough for a final 25-20 victory, with Tech smashing .344 and leading wire-to-wire.
The team's 21st triumph of the season provided on of the main highlights of the evening, as Tech head coach Jeannette Phillips secured the 100th victory of her career. She became just the fourth Golden Eagle leader to reach the century mark in wins with the program.
In the opening set of the night, senior libero McKenna Young joined a short list of elite defensive specialists to work in the Ohio Valley Conference, recording the 2,000th dig of her career. Not only did the Murfreesboro native join Katie Kenline (2006-09) as the only Golden Eagles in school history to reach the mark, she also became just the 14th player in league history to achieve the milestone.
Young ended the night with a team-high 12 scoops, chipping in two assists for good measure.
Rookie Alayna Pierce produced a monster night for the purple and gold, crushing a match-high 12 kills while hitting a robust .357. The outside hitter added 10 digs to the effort as well, earning her seventh double-double of the season.
Senior outside Madolyn Isringhausen just missed out on a double-double of her own, ending the night with 11 kills, nine digs, and a service ace. Veteran middle blocker Elena Wallace was a huge asset for the Golden Eagles on the night, locking down eight terminations while hitting .294 with two blocks.
Adding seven kills and a team-high three rejections to the effort was senior Bella Powell. Senior defensive specialist Aleeya Jones tacked on nine digs and an ace as well.
Junior setter Jordan Karlen continued her impressive weekend with 36 assists, averaging 12.00 assists per set. To round out the night, the Janesville, Wis. native recorded four kills, two aces, eight digs, and a solo block. Rookie middle Mallory Jenkins tallied six kills and two blocks.
The Golden Eagles conclude the 2024 regular season with a final tune-up at UT Martin before embarking for the OVC Tournament. Tech will square off with its in-state rival in a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and again in a 4:00 p.m. match-up on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Photo by Jim Dillon
