October 18, 2008

Golden Eagles take down Jax State in three sets

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Junior Amanda Lindgren led a balanced attack, Katie Kenline anchored the defense, and the Tennessee Tech volleyball team moved to within one game of first place Saturday with a three-set sweep of the visiting Jacksonville State Gamecocks.

Lindgren picked up another double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs, and Tech improved to 8-2 in league play, one game behind Morehead State at 9-1.

"We played well," said head coach John Blair. "We found some areas we need to work on, but it was an all-around good effort."

Marie Peddicord was Tech's top hitter with a .263 mark, getting eight kills. Katie Kenline dug 23 balls in the back row, while setter Kappy Lang had 33 assists in the three games.

For JSU, Caitlin Vorbeck had 14 kills and only one hitting error for a .382 percentage. Brittney Whitten had a double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs.

Tech jumped out to an early lead, helped in part by three service aces to get the lead up to 11-5. The Golden Eagles then got another ace to inch closer to the win. With the Golden Eagles up 19-9, Jax State made a four-point run and got the set within six points, before Tech finished with a 25-16 win.

"We played strong," Blair said. "We got out to the good start and kept building on it."

The Gamecocks started the second set on a completely different attitude and took the very early 2-1 lead. However, it was the Golden Eagles who went on a run to build up a 10-4 lead. JSU used two of their three blocks in the set in going on a 10-3 run and claimed an 18-16 lead.

But the Golden Eagles would get the last mini-run with two kills from sophomore Leah Meffert to take the second set, 25-22. More importantly, Tech took a 2-0 set lead headed into the extended break. The set featured 11 scoring ties and six different lead changes.

The third set was a battle back and fourth from the beginning and featured seven scoring ties and two different lead changes. But it was the Golden Eagles who closed out the match with a kill from senior Caitlin Bullock that gave Tech the season sweep over Jacksonville State.

Next up for Tech is a road weekend at Tennessee State and Austin Peay. The Golden Eagles look to avenge an early season loss to the Lady Govs and move another step closer to the top of the OVC. The Lady Govs defeated Morehead State on Saturday to move into a tie with Tech for second in the OVC.