COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech Volleyball team will face
come of the best competition in the country when they travel to
Bowling Green, Ky. this weekend for the Western Kentucky Classic.
Two teams in the tournament have received votes in the most recent
AVCA poll.
Tech (2-4) defeated Ball State last weekend while at the Active
Ankle Challenge.
AGAINST VALPO - Tech looks to take the series lead from the
Crusaders after their match this weekend. The Golden Eagles are 1-1
all-time with the most recent match coming in the 1991 season when
Tech fell, 3-0. Two years previous Tech was the one who came away
with the sweep, 3-0. Valpariaso is led by Angie Porche who has hit
for 118 kills this season with a .273 hitting percentage. She has
also second on the Crusaders lineup with 63 digs. Last weekend
Valpariaso went 2-1 with wins over Louisville and Wake Forest after
falling to Indiana. Porche had 23 kills in the five set win over
Louisville.
AGAINST MIAMI (OHIO) - The Redhawks have defeated the Golden Eagles
twice before leading the series between the two schools, 2-0. The
last time the two schools met, the year was 1997 as Tech fell 3-0.
The Redhawks are 4-2 on the season thus far as they went 3-0 last
weekend with wins over Cal State-Fullerton, Wisconsin and UNLV.
Four players for Miami (Ohio) have already reached 50+ kills with
Emily Schroeder leading the way with 68 on a .227 hitting. Last
weekend Schroeder had 35 kills in 10 sets for 3.5 per set.
MIAMI (OHIO) SIDE-NOTE - When Tech takes on Miami (Ohio) they will
also take on a former Golden Eagle volleyball coach. Jennie Gilbert
was the Tech volleyball coach from 1994-2002 and led the team to
the 1997 OVC tournament championship. She ranks second in coaching
wins with 126. Gilbert is the current Assistant Athletics Director
and Senior Women's Administrator at Miami (Ohio).
"I am excited that we get to play Tech," Gilbert said. "I think it
will be great competition for both teams and I wish both teams the
best of luck in the tournament."
AGAINST FURMAN - With the all-time series knotted up at one match a
piece, the tie will be broken. Tech's win against the Paladins came
in 1991 with Furman's win coming just three years later. Furman
comes into the WKU tournament with a 4-3 record after claiming the
title at Belmont tournament with wins over IPFW, Belmont and OVC
foe Murray State. Against Murray, the Paladins held the Racers to a
.092 hitting in the three set match. Katherine Hall currently leads
Furman with 74 kills through their first seven matches. Defensively
Alson West has collected 72 digs and 22 blocks, with seven solos
thus far.
AGAINST WESTERN KENTUCKY - Tech hasn't played Western Kentucky
since 2005 when the Hilltoppers defeated coach Blair's team 3-0.
Overall, WKU owns a 15-7 record against Tech dating back to when
Western Kentucky was a member of the OVC. WKU remains undefeated at
6-0 winning the Alabama Crimson Tide tournament.