Golden Eagles skip by Colonels to remain atop OVC
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - After building up to their 20th straight set
win, the Tennessee Tech volleyball team slipped up a little and the
Eastern Kentucky Colonels rebounded to knot the match up at 2-2. A
strong performance by sophomore Leah Meffert proved to be too much
as Tech took set five 15-7 and the match 3-2.
After the match concluded, the team's five senior members were
honored and were joined by their families on the court.
"We found somethings that we need work on," said head coach John
Blair. "Our balance is good but just need to fix some kinks."
The match improved the Golden Eagles to 12-2 in the OVC and holding
on to a one match lead over Morehead State pending the outcome of
the Eagles visiting Jacksonville State.
The first set was a battle back and forth including seven scoring
ties and five lead changes. It was at 19-19 that Tech found the
element needed to close out the set and went on a 6-2 run including
two kills from senior Alysson Sanders.
With a set behind them, the Golden Eagles relaxed a little and
played more consistently, hitting .310 for the set. Once again the
set was close for the first few points. With the match tied at 6-6,
Tech used a 5-0 run with senior Caitlin Bullock leading the charge
with three kills and a block in the run.
The Golden Eagles would continue to claim points and finish up the
set on a 14-10 run including their largest lead at the end of the
set claiming the 25-17 set three win.
With their 20-set winning streak on the line, Tech looked to close
the match out in three sets, but it would not happen as the
Colonels hit .280 in set three along with 14 kills to claim a 26-24
set victory. Colonel Bridget Mustard served the final three points
for EKU including a service ace to clinch the set.
Set four also did not go as the Golden Eagles planned with give
scoring ties and two lead changed, the Colonels carried their
momentum from the third set into the fourth and leveled the match
at two sets apiece.
A thriller at the end of the set when Tech was down 22-24 and came
back with a kill from both Bullock and Meffert tied it up at 24-24,
but for the second straight set, EKU ended the frame with a service
ace.
As it had been all afternoon, the final set was a
heart-stopper.
With the Golden Eagles down 2-3, the floor came alive for Tech.
Using a 13-4 run the Golden Eagles capped off a strong weekend,
claiming a 15-7 set five win.
Meffert led the attack for Tech recording a double-double with 26
kills and 12 digs. Bullock and sophomore Marie Peddicord also
tallied double digit kills with 12 and 10, respectively.
Reigning OVC Setter and Defensive Players of the Week, senior Kappy
Lang and junior Katie Kenline played a pivitol role in the win.
Lang recorded another double-double on the season with 56 assists
while playing the ball up with 10 digs. Kenline almost doubled her
digs from last night with 29 in the win.
The Colonels also saw some strong performances from its players
with Lindsey Loescher breaking into the match with 20 kills and
seven digs. Kate Hendle dished out 39 assists on EKU's 46 kills. A
spread defensive effort for the Colonels saw Hendle record a
double-double with 12 digs in addition to her assists.
OVC leading Tech (15-9, 12-2 OVC) returns to the road the next two
weekends to conclude the OVC regular season. Oct. 7 the team
travels to Southeast Missouri before traveling a little north to
Eastern Illinois on Oct. 8. Match times are at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. on
the respective days.
