Golden Eagles claim first win, top Belmont 3-1 in Eblen Center
After dropping the first set of the night, the Golden Eagle volleyball team found its rhythm and swept the next three for a 3-1 victory over Belmont Tuesday night in Eblen Center.
Only home match for nearly a month
View comments from coach John Blair and senior
Melanie Culp
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- It took the Tennessee Tech volleyball team
the entire first set to find its rhythm, but the Golden Eagles
finally got the beat and swept the next three sets for a 3-1
non-conference victory Tuesday night over Belmont University in
Eblen Center.
It was Tech's first home match of the season -- the only home
contest for the Golden Eagles for nearly a month -- and gave coach
John Blair's team (1-3) its first win of the season.
"In the second set we started to find ourselves and do the things
we've been practicing," Blair said. "We're in the right column.
Belmont was a good team. We were glad to be at home. We had a nice
crowd. They got behind us early and stayed with us the entire
match."
Maggie Johnson helped the Bruins (2-2) roll to a 25-16 win in the
first set, as the visitors appeared to have set the tone for the
evening. But the Golden Eagles took control early in the second set
and hung on for a narrow 25-22 victory to tie things at the
break.
The third set was the closest of the night before the Golden
Eagles prevailed, 25-23. With a 2-1 lead, Tech seemed to play with
more confidence and built a commanding lead in the fourth set
before wrapping things up with a 25-17 decision.
"We controlled the ball a little better," Blair said. "I thought
Mel Culp did a nice job executing the offense a little better. We
had some individual players who I thought played more
consistently."
Culp, the senior setter and team captain, had 36 assists and 16
digs, her second double-double of the season.
"It felt really good to finally finish and win," Culp said. "It
was a tough match but we came together. Being on the home court
didn't hurt at all, with a lot of fans. The support was really
nice."
Senior Leah Meffert also posted her second double-double of the
year, leading Tech with 16 kills and adding 11 digs. Senior Marie
Peddicord was the most effective hitter on the front line Tuesday,
posting a .375 hitting percentage with nine kills and no errors.
She also topped Tech with three total blocks.
Freshman libero Allison May led the defensive numbers with 21
digs.
Johnson posted a double-double to lead Belmont, collecting 23
kills and 12 digs. She was the primary attacker for the Bruins,
getting 68 swings. Kayla Albritton had eight kills along with 10
digs while Tara Blood had seven kills and a stout .316 hitting
percentage. Defensively, five Bruins hit double digits in digs, led
by libero Megan Clements with 2
Tech's next action is in Birmingham, Ala., this weekend when the
Golden Eagles play four matches in the Samford Invitational.
