Golden Eagles set to open 2015 season at Wright State Invitational
August 25, 2015

Golden Eagles set to open 2015 season at Wright State Invitational

August may be ending, but for Golden Eagle student-athletes, the fall seasons are just beginning. For the Tennessee Tech volleyball team, the 2015 season promises to be a fun, yet challenging one.

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By Holly Weber, Sports Information Coordinator 

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — August may be ending, but for Golden Eagle student-athletes, the fall seasons are just beginning. For the Tennessee Tech volleyball team, the 2015 season promises to be a fun, yet challenging one. To kick off the start of the new year, the team will participate in four different tournaments, facing 13 different opponents from 11 different conferences.

To kick things off, the Golden Eagles will travel to Dayton, Ohio, this weekend for the Wright State Invitational. Tech will face opponents from the University of Evansville, Wright State, and Niagara. 

EVANSVILLE PURPLE ACES
Evansville is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and, in 2014, the Purple Aces compiled an 8-22 overall record. This season, Evansville was projected to place ninth in the league according to the 2015 volleyball preseason poll. This will be head coach Manolo Concepción’s third season heading the Purple Aces. Returning to Evansville, and a player to watch this year, is sophomore Genesis Miranda, who collected 328 kills, 68 blocks, 178 digs and 23 aces in the 2014 season. Miranda was also named to the league’s All-Freshman Team a season ago.

WRIGHT STATE RAIDERS
Wright State, a member of the Horizon League, ended its 2014 season with a 5-23 overall mark. Head coach Susan Clements will begin her fourth year at the helm of the Raiders this season. Wright State's player to watch will be sophomore, and Horizon League All-Freshman Team honoree Jessie Thornton. A 5-foot-6 libero from Louisville, Ky., Thornton led the league in digs per set (5.43) last season and ranked 13th in Division I in the category. Her 532 digs also marked the third-highest single season total in Wright State history, giving her the 36th ranked spot in Division I. 

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES
Niagara University belongs to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Last season, the Purple Eagles compiled a 14-18 overall record, and finished sixth in the MAAC Championship Tournament after falling 3-1 to Canisius. Niagara was selected to finish seventh in the 2015 MAAC preseason poll with three returning MAAC All-Rookie team members, including Alexis Gray, Nicole Matheis, and Rylee Hunt. Heading the Purple Eagles is Vilis Ozols who returns in 2015 for his third season.

TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES
Returning to Tech is senior, and Cookeville native Cody Dodd. Dodd was named to the 2014 All-Ohio Valley Conference team, as well as named an OVC Offensive Player of the Week on three separate occasions. Dodd was also selected as one of 36 athletes to participate in the U.S. Collegiate National Team program. In her 2014 season, Dodd set a career-record 30 kills and scored 525.5 points. Last season the Golden Eagles compiled a 15-19 overall record, going 9-7 in conference play. Dave Zelenock returns for his third season as head of the Tech volleyball program.

First match for the Golden Eagles at the Wright State Invitational will be against Evansville with first serve slated for 4 p.m. CDT on Friday. On Saturday, match play against Wright State will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a 2:30 p.m. tilt against Niagara.

Complete match results and stats will be posted on TTUsports.com each day. All three of Tech's matches will be carried live on ESPN3.

Here is a look at the Golden Eagles schedule for the remainder of the season:

 

Date:

Opponent:

Time:

Sept. 3-5

Tennessee Volleyball Classic

TBA

Sept. 11-12

Memphis Invitational

TBA

Sept. 18-19

Golden Eagles Invitational presented by Hampton Inn

TBA

Sept. 25

at Eastern Illinois*

7 p.m.

Sept. 26

at SIUE*

2 p.m.

Sept. 29

Jacksonville State*

7 p.m.

Oct. 3

Southeast Missouri*

2 p.m.

Oct. 9

at Belmont*

6 p.m.

Oct. 10

at Tennessee State*

2 p.m.

Oct. 16

Morehead State*

7 p.m.

Oct. 17

Eastern Kentucky*

2 p.m.

Oct. 23

at Eastern Kentucky*

6 p.m.

Oct. 24

at Morehead State*

2 p.m.

Oct. 30

Austin Peay*

4 p.m.

Oct. 31

Murray State*

4 p.m.

Nov. 6

Tennessee State*

7 p.m.

Nov. 7

Belmont*

4 p.m.

Nov. 10

at Jacksonville State*

7 p.m.

Nov. 13

at UT Martin

7 p.m.

Nov. 19-21

Ohio Valley Conference Tournament

TBA

Dec. 3-19

NCAA Tournament

TBA

* indicates Ohio Valley Conference match