Tech wraps up Stacheville Challenge with thrilling five-set win
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – With the match square at two sets apiece against in-state foe and former conference rival Austin Peay, Bella Powell took charge in the deciding series as she collected five kills to lead the Tennessee Tech volleyball team to a 3-2 victory over the Governors in the Stacheville Challenge finale. Tech improves to 2-1 on the season and will return to action next weekend in Birmingham at the UAB Blazer Invit
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
25 | 21 | 25 | 16 | 12 | 2 |
|
|
23 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
Team Stats
Austin Peay
| Game Statistics | Tennessee Tech | Austin Peay |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting % | 0.169 | 0.081 |
| Blocks | 10 | 8 |
| Digs | 70 | 67 |
| Aces | 12 | 8 |
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – With the match square at two sets apiece against in-state foe and former conference rival Austin Peay, Bella Powell took charge in the deciding series as she collected five kills to lead the Tennessee Tech volleyball team to a 3-2 victory over the Governors in the Stacheville Challenge finale.
Tech improves to 2-1 on the season and will return to action next weekend in Birmingham at the UAB Blazer Invitational against North Alabama, USC Upstate and host UAB.
With her output in the final set, Powell ended the match with 17 kills and five assisted blocks to account for 20.5 points in the match. Alayna Pierce improved on her numbers against Murray State as she collected 20 kills.
Tuva Falk had six assisted blocks as the Golden Eagles finished with 10 total.
Jordan Karlen continued her strong play at setter, dishing out 49 assists – just barely missing a 10-assist average per set.
Reaghan Larkin led APSU (0-3) with nine kills, while Lauren Wallace had eight and Taly Cloyd and Dani Kopacz each ended the day with seven. Sarah Butler had 16 assists and Gianna Tagoa'I 15.
The Golden Eagles took a 23-22 lead on a Tagoa'I service error, then Wallace tied the set with a kill and APSU forced two Tech attack errors to take the first set 25-23. In the second set, it was a balanced attack as Audrey Berkebile, Jordyn Milhouse, Powell and Falk each had three kills with Pierce collecting four to get to double digits after her six kills in the opening set.
After a 6-6 tie, Tech surged out to two six-point leads and maintained even as the Governors charged back within one at 22-21. Nya Brown's service error put Tech back up by two, then APSU was unsuccessful on a challenge on Pierce's kill to force set point. Berkebile closed the set out with a kill to make it 25-21Tech to even the match at one.
Attack errors and blocks hampered Tech's effort in the third set as the Golden Eagles fell in set three. Tech had 10 kills but 12 errors, while the Govs won the set with only six kills to their credit and six blocks. That said, Tech was within reach with the set tied at 20, but three attack errors, a service ace and a kill for the Govs wrapped up the series.
The Golden Eagles came back with a vengeance in set four, knotting things back up once more with a 25-16 win. APSU cut the deficit down to three at 17-14 but Tech outscored the Govs 8-2 down the stretch to force the deciding set.
The momentum continued to build for the Golden Eagles as Pierce got Tech off to a 4-1 start and Powell rolled up two quick kills to get a 10-5 lead. APSU inched back within one, but Sarah Noto put the final nails in the coffin as she converted feeds from Karlen and MK Roberts into the deciding points of the set for the victory.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
