November 4, 2010

Golden Eagles begin final homestand of season

Fresh off their 3-1 win over Jacksonville State, the Golden Eagles (7-18, 5-9 OVC) will look to climb up the OVC standings using a four-match homestand that concludes the 2010 regular season. Tech opens its homestand with a pair of matches this weekend against Murray State and UT Martin.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Fresh off their 3-1 win over Jacksonville State, the Golden Eagles (7-18, 5-9 OVC) will look to climb up the OVC standings using a four-match homestand that concludes the 2010 regular season. Tech opens its homestand with a pair of matches this weekend against Murray State and UT Martin.

"The only way we can control our own destiny is to win," head coach John Blair said. "We can't afford to get complacent and we need to stay focused."

Tennessee Tech opens the weekend as it hosts the Racers of Murray State Friday at 7 p.m. In their previous meeting this season, Murray State defeated the Golden Eagles in five sets. The Racers currently sit fourth in the conference with an 8-6 Ohio Valley Conference record and are 13-13 overall.

"Murray is one of those teams that does some things that no one else does," Blair said. "They have one of the best setters in the conference and they'll always be in a match because of it."

The Golden Eagles then welcome in UT Martin with the opening serve set for 2 p.m. on Saturday. Tech defeated the Skyhawks earlier this season in four sets and presently own an eight-match winning streak over UTM. The Skyhawks own a 5-21 record and a 3-11 OVC record which places them in ninth place in the conference.

"UT Martin has been a little up and down this season but when they're up they are good," Blair said. "I don't think we saw their best last time we faced them and if you go into the match assuming they will be a pushover you can get into trouble quickly."