Tech concludes non-conference slate with day two of Blazer Beach Bash
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team wrapped up action at its final non-conference event of the season on Saturday, completing two duels at the Blazer Beach Bash at the UAB Beach Volleyball Courts in Birmingham, Ala.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Tennessee Tech beach volleyball team wrapped up action at its final non-conference event of the season on Saturday, completing two duels at the Blazer Beach Bash at the UAB Beach Volleyball Courts in Birmingham, Ala.
After dropping a pair of 5-0 decisions on day one to Southeastern Louisiana and host UAB, the Golden Eagles (3-14) made a little progress in their first match-up of the day against Missouri State (16-5), falling 4-1. Tech later lost an in-state battle with Chattanooga (19-5) in a tilt that did not count towards Ohio Valley Conference play, 5-0.
Putting one in the win column for the purple and gold against the Bears was the team's No. 2 pairing of senior Brooke Amann and freshman Alayna Pierce. The duo captured a pair of hard-earned wins in the duel, edging Missouri State's MacKenzie Steele and Amanda Cleary in straight sets by scores of 22-20 and 21-19.
At the No. 3 slot, senior Aleeya Jones and sophomore MK Roberts nearly opened their day with a first-set win, but the Bears' Morgan Sprague and Maddie Schrandt outlasted the Tech duo 23-21 before capturing the meeting with a 21-16 set-two win.
Squaring off with Chattanooga for the second time this season and the first time in non-conference action, Amann and Pierce dropped an absolute war of a first set against the Mocs' No. 2 pairing of McKenna Faychak and Maddie Lecik by a score of 26-24. UTC's side earned the win in set two with a 21-15 decision.
Competing at the No. 4 spot for Tech, seniors McKenna Young and Jazmine Yamilkoski nearly forced a third set with Chattanooga's Joy Courtright and Julia Lawrence after falling in the first 21-12. The veteran Golden Eagles were clipped in the end despite the need for extra points, 22-20.
Tech will wrap up the regular season next week with the second OVC weekend of competition in Morehead, Ky., taking on the Mocs in a rematch on Friday morning at 7:00 a.m. CT before taking on Lindenwood at 11:00 a.m. On Saturday, the purple and gold will square off with Eastern Illinois in a 9:00 a.m. match-up and conclude the weekend with a 3:00 p.m. showing against UT Martin.
File photo by Jim Dillon
