Tech Beach closes out regular season, advances to OVC tourney
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Tennessee Tech finished the Ohio Valley Conference regular season on Saturday with a pair of shortened matches to try to beat impending weather, taking a 3-1 loss to Eastern Illinois and a 3-0 loss to Chattanooga. The Golden Eagles will compete in next week’s OVC Beach Volleyball Championship in Martin, Tenn., taking on the host Skyhawks on Thursday at Noon. The winner between the No. 3 Skyhawks and No. 6 Golden Eagles will take on No. 2 Lindenwood at 4 PM, while the loser will compete in the consolation bracket on Friday at Noon.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Tennessee Tech finished the Ohio Valley Conference regular season on Saturday with a pair of shortened matches to try to beat impending weather, taking a 3-1 loss to Eastern Illinois and a 3-0 loss to Chattanooga.
The Golden Eagles will compete in next week's OVC Beach Volleyball Championship in Martin, Tenn., taking on the host Skyhawks on Thursday at Noon. The winner between the No. 3 Skyhawks and No. 6 Golden Eagles will take on No. 2 Lindenwood at 4 PM, while the loser will compete in the consolation bracket on Friday at Noon.
With the threat of inclement weather, all matches were played to decision with the first team to three wins claiming the match.
Against the Panthers, Tori Mohesky and Alanya Nieves got EIU off to a strong start with a 21-14 and 21-10 win over Kyana Gabriel and Alanah Craig at No. 3, then Ariadna Pereles and Emma Schroeder topped Cristina Rotola and Savannah Knepp at 21-14 and 21-18.
The Golden Eagles avoided the shutout as Piper Jones and Audrey Kilgore defeated Katie Kopshever and Anaya Rawlinson in three sets, winning the first 21-11 before falling 21-10. The Tech pair won the tiebreaker 15-12.
EIU, however, claimed the victory with a 21-11 and 21-19 victory over Bailey Poppe and Kaesha Walter. MK Roberts and Vivian RoBards weren't unable to complete the No. 1 pairing as the match was square with a 21-13 and 19-21 result.
Against the Mocs, Ava Goryl and Madeline McCabe got things started with a 21-6 and 21-8 victory over Jones and Kilgore at No. 5, then Taylor Clark and Ashli McKenny topped Rotola and Knepp at No. 4 with a 21-8 and 21-6 result.
The exhibition pairing went to the Golden Eagles as Zoe Mish and Maggie Kamp defeated Avery Grulich and Jill Sandel 21-11 and 21-19 despite not counting toward the final count. Julia Lawrence and Corina Vale clinched the match – and the OVC regular-season championship – with a 21-14 and 21-11 win over Gabriel and Craig at No. 2.
Photo | Brad Laux, Morehead State Athletics
